The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) will convene its 52nd Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in Baghdad on October 17-18. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will attend the session, which focuses on the crisis in Gaza and maritime security in the Gulf.
Iraq assumes the rotating presidency from Türkiye
The upcoming meeting in Baghdad marks a formal transition of leadership within the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), as Türkiye transfers the rotating presidency to Iraq. As the Turkish Foreign Ministry announced, Türkiye has held this leadership role since June 2025, following a previous Council of Foreign Ministers meeting held in Istanbul.
This trnasition occurs within the framework of the world's second-largest intergovernmental body. established in 1969, the OIC currently comprises 57 member states, trailing only the United Nations in scale.. Türkiye remains a pivotal figure in the organization, serving as one of its 25 founding members.
Hakan Fidan's designation of Israeli policies as the "biggest security threat"
During the proceedings, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is expected to deliver a sharp critique of Israel's actions.. According to the report, Fidan will describe the aggressive and expansionist policies of Israel as the primary security threat facing the Middle East today.
Fidan's agenda includes a push for OIC members to protect the status of Jerusalem and oppose the relocation of foreign embassies to the city. He is expected to reiterate that a two-state solution, resulting in an independent Palestinian state, remains the only viable path toward a lasting peace in the region.
The strategic priority of the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al Mandab
Beyond the Palestinian territories, the meeting will address the critical vulnerability of global trade routes. hakan Fidan is expected to emphasize that ensuring free and safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al Mandab is essential for both regional stability and the global economy.
While advocating for maritime freedom, Fidan is also expected to condemn the attacks carried out by Houthi militias against critical infrastructure and civilians. In doing so, the Turkish Foreign Minister will reaffirm Türkiye's solidarity with Saudi Arabia, highlighting the tension between supporting regional sovereignty and opposing non-state actor violence.
Protecting sovereignty in Lebanon and the rights of Turkish Cypriots
The OIC agenda extends to the territorial integrity of Syria and Lebanon.. As reported, Hakan Fidan will call for a complete Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon to ensure the sovereignty of the Lebanese state.
Additionally, the summit will tackle long-standing grievances regarding Muslim minorities. This includes the perceived "unjust isolation" of Turkish Cypriots and the fundamental freedoms of Muslim Turkish communities in the Dodecanese islands and Western Thrace. These issues underscore the OIC's role in addressing the rights of Muslim populations even outside the borders of its member states.
The ambiguity of "responsible international actors" and UN reform
While the meeting aims for "Dialogue and Solidarity," several critical details remain vague. The report notes that Hakan Fidan will urge OIC members to coordinate with "responsible international actors," yet it does not specify which non-OIC nations or organizations Türkiye views as the ideal partners for this coordination.
Furthermore, while the agenda lists United Nations reform and counterterrorism as key topics, the source provides no specific proposals on how the OIC intends to pressure the UN for structural changes. It remains unclear whether the OIC seeks a collective voting bloc at the UN or specific changes to the Security Council's composition.
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