Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan attended a regional meeting in Cairo over the weekend. He met with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, and Massad Boulos, the US senior adviser for Arab and African affairs, the Turkish Foreign Ministry reported.
The meeting had symbolic importance, because it was taking place as the Iran war appears to be paused for the time being.
It illustrates how the US is engaging with various Muslim countries in the region. Many of those states want to discuss topics other than Iran.
For instance, the meeting also involved discussions about Libya. The US appears to be quietly seeking to bring the various sides together regarding Libya. This would be good after more than a decade of civil conflict there.
“Hakan Fidan participated in the meeting on regional issues, including Libya, with Badr Abdelatty... Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud... and Massad Fares Boulos... in a post on US social media platform X,” Turkish state-run news agency Anadolu Agency quoted the Turkish Foreign Ministry as saying.
Cairo summit highlights post-Iran deal priorities
The Egyptian Foreign Ministry said the meeting “witnessed an in-depth exchange of views on regional files, including the Iranian file, following the US-Iran memorandum of understanding, emphasizing the importance of building on this step to reduce tensions and enhance regional stability,” the report said. “The meeting also addressed developments in Libya, stressing the importance of supporting efforts to preserve Libya’s unity, respect its sovereignty, advance the political process, and unify state institutions.”
In addition, the Egyptians “added that the meeting also covered the latest developments regarding the Palestinian cause, particularly in the Gaza Strip, as well as the situation in Africa and ways to enhance joint cooperation to support security on the continent,” Anadolu Agency reported.