A Turkish diplomatic source said representatives from Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Pakistan, Qatar, Syria, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates would attend.

The meeting comes amid limited signs of de-escalation nearly three weeks into the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, which has disrupted the region and affected global energy supplies. The conflict has heightened concerns over broader instability across the Middle East.

Hakan Fidan is expected to stress the need for a negotiated and peaceful resolution, warning that a prolonged conflict could inflict lasting damage on ties between regional countries, the Turkish source said. He is also expected to visit additional countries following the Riyadh talks.

Turkey, a member of the NATO and a neighbour of Iran, had sought to mediate between Tehran and United States before the war began. Ankara has since condemned U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran as violations of international law, while also criticising Iranian attacks on Gulf states as unacceptable.

The Riyadh meeting is expected to focus on coordinated diplomatic efforts to contain the conflict and mitigate its economic and security repercussions across the region.

Speaking to reporters at the White House during a St. Patrick’s Day visit by Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin, Trump said allied governments had expressed support for U.S. and Israeli actions but were unwilling to provide direct military assistance.

Trump noted that several allied countries had indicated they had no immediate plans to deploy naval forces to help secure the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime corridor through which roughly one-fifth of global oil supplies pass.

The comments followed calls by the U.S. administration for international support to maintain shipping access after Iran responded to joint U.S.-Israeli strikes with drones, missiles and naval mines that have effectively hindered tanker traffic.

Despite the criticism, Trump said he had “nothing currently in mind” when asked whether Washington would retaliate against allies for their stance.

“I think NATO is making a very foolish mistake,” Trump said. “Everyone agrees with us, but they don’t want to help.”

Earlier in the day, Trump struck a different tone on social media, stating that the United States no longer needed NATO assistance due to what he described as “Military Success” in the ongoing conflict, now in its third week.

In that statement, he also singled out non-NATO partners Japan, Australia and South Korea, without elaborating on their roles.

Trump has previously raised the possibility of withdrawing the United States from NATO, though he did not revisit that position in his latest remarks.

The standoff over the Strait of Hormuz has heightened concerns about global energy supplies, as disruptions in the narrow waterway can have immediate implications for oil markets and shipping routes.

The reluctance of NATO allies to engage militarily underscores divisions within the alliance over involvement in the conflict, even as diplomatic backing for U.S. actions appears to remain intact.

The conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran has entered its third week, with the Strait of Hormuz — a corridor for roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas flows effectively constrained by Iranian drones and naval mines.

Several U.S. partners, including Germany, Spain and Italy, said they had no immediate plans to send warships to secure the passage, citing legal and political constraints.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Berlin lacked a mandate from the United Nations, the European Union or NATO, and added that Germany had not been consulted prior to the launch of military operations.

Trump, speaking in Washington, said some countries had expressed willingness to assist but criticised others for what he described as a lack of enthusiasm despite long-standing U.S. support.

The disruption in the Strait of Hormuz has heightened fears of supply shocks and inflationary pressure, as energy markets react to restricted flows through one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints.Iran has targeted oil infrastructure across the Gulf, including facilities in the United Arab Emirates.

Drone strikes hit an oil facility in Fujairah for a second consecutive day, while operations at key sites, including the Shah gas field in Abu Dhabi, were suspended.

Airspace closures and temporary halts at major hubs, including Dubai’s international airport, underscored the wider economic and logistical impact.

There was no pause in hostilities, with Israel saying it struck Iranian infrastructure in Tehran and positions linked to Hezbollah in Beirut. Israeli officials have indicated plans for at least three more weeks of military operations.

Iran launched overnight strikes on Israel, demonstrating continued long-range capabilities, while warning it would target energy assets in any country facilitating attacks on its territory.

Tehran has also accused the UAE of serving as a launch point for recent U.S. strikes on Kharg Island, a major Iranian oil export hub, signalling a potential widening of the conflict’s geographic scope.

In a statement, the Palestinian Islamist movement said it supported Iran’s right to respond to what it described as aggression but appealed to Tehran to avoid military actions that could draw additional countries into the conflict.

“While affirming the right of the Islamic Republic of Iran to respond to this aggression by all available means in accordance with international norms and laws, the movement calls on the brothers in Iran to avoid targeting neighboring countries,” Hamas said. The statement marked the group’s first public appeal of this nature directed at Tehran.

Hamas also called on the international community to work toward an immediate end to the war that has engulfed the region since late February.

The group previously condemned the killing of Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, on the first day of the conflict, describing it as a “heinous crime” and crediting him with providing political, diplomatic and military backing to the Palestinian movement over many years.

Despite facing U.S. and Israeli military pressure, Iran has launched retaliatory missile and drone strikes that have reached at least 10 countries since the start of the conflict, according to statements cited by Hamas.

Authorities in Qatar said two missiles were intercepted on Saturday after explosions were heard in the capital Doha, prompting evacuations in parts of the city.

Meanwhile, NATO forces intercepted a ballistic missile fired from Iran in the airspace of Turkiye on Friday, Turkish officials said.

The conflict has also intensified along Israel’s northern border with Lebanon, where the Iran-aligned group Hezbollah fired hundreds of rockets at Israel shortly after the war began. Lebanese authorities say nearly 800 people have been killed in Israeli strikes since the escalation.

Iran has long been one of Hamas’s principal backers, with analysts estimating that Tehran provided the movement with tens of millions of dollars annually.

Under Khamenei, support for Palestinian groups formed a central element of Iran’s regional strategy against Israel and its allies. Several Sunni-majority states have also maintained ties with Hamas, including Qatar, which has funded humanitarian and reconstruction programs in Gaza, and Turkiye, which has provided political and diplomatic support under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Qatar has hosted Hamas’s political leadership in Doha, enabling the group to maintain international contacts and participate in mediation and negotiation efforts related to Gaza.

Relations between Copenhagen, Nuuk and Washington have been strained in recent months after Trump repeatedly suggested the United States should take control of Greenland, citing national security concerns tied to the Arctic’s growing strategic importance.

Astrid Andersen, a historian at the Danish Institute for International Studies, said tensions had been particularly high earlier this year but that recent diplomatic engagement had helped cool the dispute.

“The meetings on a diplomatic level take the temperature a notch down,” Andersen said, adding that the strategy now appeared to focus on avoiding public disputes through traditional and social media.

Officials in Denmark and Greenland hope that expanded defence cooperation through NATO and the creation of a diplomatic working group involving Washington, Nuuk and Copenhagen will help ease tensions.

The initiatives are intended in part to address concerns about growing influence from Russia and China in the Arctic region, which has become increasingly important for security and resource access.

Despite the diplomatic outreach, Danish and Greenlandic authorities have maintained a firm position that any transfer of sovereignty over Greenland remains out of the question.

Trump’s recent proposal to send a U.S. hospital ship to Greenland to address local health system challenges was rejected by authorities but did not significantly escalate tensions.

Polar geopolitics researcher Mikaa Mered said Copenhagen was seeking to maintain calm during a politically sensitive period. Denmark is scheduled to hold a general election on March 24, while Greenland elects two representatives to the Danish parliament.

Greenland, which was a Danish colony for three centuries, remains an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. Although Greenland’s main political parties support eventual independence, they differ on how and when that should occur.In recent months, Nuuk and Copenhagen have presented a united position in response to U.S. interest in the island.

Julie Rademacher, chair of the National Organization for Greenlanders in Denmark, said cooperation between the two governments had strengthened during the dispute.

“This is the first time there has been such close cooperation between Copenhagen and Nuuk,” she said.Greenlandic politician Aqqaluk Lynge warned that both governments needed to act cautiously, particularly with elections approaching.“He will use everything,” Lynge said of Trump, referring to the potential political impact of the Greenland issue.

Some contentious historical issues between Denmark and Greenland have been set aside temporarily amid the diplomatic tensions.

One such issue concerns a programme of forced contraception imposed on young Greenlandic women by Danish authorities between the late 1960s and 1991. Denmark issued a formal apology in 2025 and pledged compensation to those affected.

A report submitted to the Greenlandic government in early February examining the legal implications of the programme, including whether it could be classified as genocide, has not yet been made public.

Meanwhile, a visit to Greenland last month by Frederik X was widely viewed as part of an effort to demonstrate unity within the Kingdom of Denmark, which includes Denmark, Greenland and the Faroe Islands

The ministry said the deployments were made “in the context of the latest developments in our region,” adding that additional measures could be taken depending on how the situation evolves.

European powers have stepped up military activity on the divided Mediterranean island since a drone struck Britain’s RAF Akrotiri air base in Cyprus last week. Security officials believe the drone was launched by Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group.

The Turkish defence ministry said six F-16 jets along with air defence systems had been positioned in northern Cyprus, which Ankara recognises as an independent state.

“As a result of the evaluations to be made depending on the developments, additional measures will continue to be taken if necessary,” the ministry said in a statement.

The island of Cyprus has been divided for decades between the internationally recognised government in the south and the Turkish Cypriot administration in the north. Ankara does not recognise the Greek Cypriot government, which is a member of the European Union.

Nikos Christodoulides, the Greek Cypriot president, said the Turkish deployments were a response to recent European statements asserting that the island’s security falls under the responsibility of the European Union.Speaking to Greek newspaper Kathimerini, he described Turkey as an “occupying power” in Cyprus.

Tufan Erhurman, leader of the Turkish Cypriot community, criticised the remarks and said the focus should instead be on ensuring security for the entire island and both communities.

Omer Celik, spokesman for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling Justice and Development Party, said the deployment was not aimed at any country but intended to strengthen security and maintain the balance of power on the island.“But we must add this: other steps may come too, whether it is air defence systems, drone centres,”

The latest move follows a regional security incident last week when NATO defences intercepted a ballistic missile fired from Iran that entered Turkish airspace. Ankara warned Tehran on Saturday against launching further missiles toward its territory.

The exercise, known as Cold Response, focuses on defending the European Arctic region, where Norway and Finland share borders with Russia. Military officials say the drills aim to test the alliance’s ability to respond to crises in the High North, an area that has drawn growing strategic attention in recent years.

The Cold Response exercise has now been incorporated into Arctic Sentry, a NATO mission designed to strengthen the alliance’s presence in the polar region. The initiative was launched in part to ease tensions surrounding Washington’s position on Greenland and to reinforce cooperation among Arctic allies.

Trump has repeatedly argued that the United States needs control over Greenland to counter potential security threats posed by Russia and China in the Arctic. Officials in both Denmark and Greenland have rejected the idea, stating that the island is not for sale.

This year’s drills involve approximately 25,000 personnel from 14 nations, including the United States and Denmark, operating primarily across northern Norway and Finland. According to military planners, the exercises will test coordination among allied forces in cold-weather and Arctic conditions.

The United States is expected to deploy roughly 4,000 troops to the drills, making it one of the largest contributors to the exercise.

Ahead of the exercise, the U.S. military withdrew one squadron of F-35 Lightning II fighter jets that had been scheduled to participate. U.S. officials declined to say whether the decision was related to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

A spokesperson for U.S. Marine Corps Forces Europe said such adjustments were common given the global commitments of American forces.

“The U.S. military is a globally deployed force and it is not abnormal for forces to be dynamically re-tasked or reallocated for a host of reasons,” the spokesperson told Reuters.

This year’s exercise places greater emphasis on the role of civilian institutions in supporting military operations, reflecting broader Nordic efforts to strengthen national resilience during crises.

Norway has designated 2026 as the year of “total defence,” a policy initiative intended to improve coordination between the military, public services, businesses and the wider population in responding to conflict or major emergencies.

Major-General Lars Lervik, head of the Norwegian Army, said the military depended on the normal functioning of civilian society in order to carry out its core mission of defending the country.

“We want our military to do its job of defending the country. To do that, we are completely reliant on most aspects of society functioning as normal,” Lervik told Reuters.

He added that the exercise also offers an opportunity to rehearse practical support roles for civilians, including preparing health services to treat a higher number of injured soldiers from Norway or allied forces during a potential conflict.

The Arctic has increasingly become a focal point of geopolitical competition as melting ice opens new maritime routes and access to natural resources. NATO officials say maintaining readiness in the region has become a strategic priority for the alliance.

Cold Response, which takes place every two years, is designed to test NATO’s ability to operate in extreme conditions while coordinating multinational forces across land, air and maritime domains.

This year’s exercise unfolds at a time of heightened global tensions, with NATO allies seeking to demonstrate operational coordination and preparedness in one of the world’s most strategically sensitive regions.

European countries more than tripled their arms imports in the 2021–2025 period compared with 2016–2020, according to the report from the Sweden-based research institute. The increase reflects efforts to supply Ukraine in its defence against Russia’s invasion and to rebuild European militaries after decades of relatively low defence spending.

“The sharp increase in arms flows to European states pushed global arms transfers up almost 10%,” said Mathew George, director of the institute’s Arms Transfers Programme.

Europe accounted for 33% of global arms imports during the period, a sharp rise from 12% in the previous five-year timeframe, the report showed.

The surge in European procurement followed Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, which prompted governments across the continent to replenish stockpiles and modernise armed forces.

Military assistance to Kyiv and the need to restore national inventories after decades of reduced defence spending have driven demand for advanced systems, including aircraft and air-defence capabilities.

Despite expanding domestic production, European governments continued to purchase significant volumes of equipment from the United States, particularly combat aircraft and long-range air-defence systems, according to the data.

The figures highlight the continuing reliance of many European countries on American defence technology even as European governments seek to strengthen their own defence industries.

Arms imports by Middle Eastern states declined by 13% during the same five-year period, although the region remains a major buyer of military equipment.

Saudi Arabia and Qatar ranked among the four largest individual arms importers globally.Pieter Wezeman, a senior researcher at the institute, said the decline mainly reflected large Saudi procurement orders placed in the previous reporting period that are still being integrated into the country’s military inventory.

He added that many governments in the region had already placed new orders before the latest escalation involving the United States, Israel and Iran, meaning the impact of those purchases is not yet fully reflected in the figures.

Wezeman said the current regional conflict is likely to boost demand further, particularly for anti-missile and air-defence systems.

“They will first replace what they have used, but also that they are going to look at buying more equipment to protect themselves even better than they can do now,” he said.

On the supply side, the United States increased its share of the global arms export market to 42%, up from 36% in the previous period, reinforcing its position as the world’s leading weapons exporter.

France ranked as the second-largest supplier with 9.8% of global arms exports.

Russia saw its share fall sharply to 6.8% from 21% following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, according to the report.Combined European arms exports accounted for 28% of the global market, a figure roughly four times larger than Russia’s share and five times greater than that of China, underscoring Europe’s growing role in the international defence trade.

Speaking to the newspaper on Saturday, Trump described Meloni as “a great leader” and said Italy was doing what it could to help in the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran. “She always tries to help, she is an excellent leader and she is a friend of mine,” Trump said, according to the report.Italy signals support roleItaly has taken steps in recent days indicating a possible role in regional security efforts linked to the conflict.

Meloni said on Thursday that Rome was planning to send air-defence assistance to Gulf countries facing Iranian air strikes.The move reflects broader European concerns about the security implications of escalating hostilities in the Middle East.Naval deployment near eastern MediterraneanSeparately, an Italian navy vessel is preparing to sail to Cyprus, an Italian navy spokesperson said on Friday. The deployment is part of a joint European mission intended to help protect the island after it came under Iranian fire.The operation underscores growing military coordination among European countries as regional tensions intensify.

Diplomatic alignment with WashingtonTrump’s remarks highlight the close political relationship between Washington and Rome under Meloni’s leadership. Italy, a NATO member and a key European Union economy, has maintained strong security ties with the United States.Italian officials have not detailed the full scope of their potential involvement, but recent defence measures suggest Rome is positioning itself to support regional security initiatives connected to the conflict.