By Bosphorus News Geopolitics Desk
A possible Cyprus trilateral emerged in New York as the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement moved toward military consultations following attacks on Saudi Arabia. A Greek-operated Patriot battery intercepted a ballistic missile and a drone near Yanbu, while Türkiye and the United States brought international partners together on Libya.
Cyprus | Guterres Considers Trilateral as Erhürman Meeting Nears
Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides said UN Secretary-General António Guterres is considering a trilateral meeting with the island's two leaders in New York and that he was prepared to extend his stay if one is arranged.
Christodoulides said Guterres had responded positively to proposals on methodology and confidence-building measures, but the United Nations has not announced a trilateral meeting. Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman met Guterres' Personal Envoy María Ángela Holguín on September 24 to discuss the current state of the Cyprus issue. Erhürman is scheduled to meet Guterres at 1 p.m. New York time on September 26.
Mecca PAct | Ministers Advance Pact as Urgent Military Talks Take Shape
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar in New York as the three countries advanced work on the institutional structure of the Makkah Joint Defense Pact.
The ministers reviewed technical negotiations on the agreement and preparations for the next meeting of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee. Saudi Gazette reported that they also discussed an urgent meeting of the three countries' chiefs of staff to examine how Saudi Arabia could be supported under the pact.
They condemned attacks targeting Mecce and civilian and economic facilities in Saudi Arabia and called for the security and freedom of maritime navigation to be protected. The August 7 agreement treats an attack on one party as an attack on all three.
Saudi Arabia | Greek Patriot Intercepts Missile and Drone Near Yanbu
A Patriot battery operated by Greek military personnel in Saudi Arabia intercepted a ballistic missile and a drone in the wider Yanbu area on September 24.
The battery fired two interceptors during the engagement. Reuters said it was the fifth combat use of the Greek-operated system since late February. Greece has maintained the Patriot deployment in Saudi Arabia since 2021 to help protect critical infrastructure.
Yanbu is the Red Sea outlet of Saudi Arabia's East-West Pipeline, allowing crude exports to bypass the Strait of Hormuz.
Eastern Mediterranean | Greece and Israel Prepare New Cyprus Trilateral
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed preparations for another Greece-Israel-Cyprus leaders' summit on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
They also discussed energy cooperation and regional security, while Netanyahu welcomed Greece's decision to acquire Israeli defense systems.
The three countries agreed at their December 2025 summit to hold annual leaders' meetings and deepen cooperation in defense, maritime security, energy and critical infrastructure protection.
Libya | Türkiye and US Convene International Support Meeting
Türkiye and the United States co-hosted a meeting in New York on Libya's political process, security and economy, with officials from Germany, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Qatar, Egypt and Saudi Arabia also taking part.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and US presidential adviser Massad Boulos chaired the meeting. Fidan reiterated Türkiye's "One Libya" policy and support for a unified government, while calling for Libya's economic and security institutions to be consolidated.
He also urged international partners to maintain dialogue with actors across the country and support a political process led by Libyans.
Türkiye Defence | Army Accepts New Tayfun Block-2 Missiles
Türkiye's Land Forces completed inspection and acceptance procedures this week for an unspecified quantity of Tayfun Block-2 missiles, the Defense Ministry said.
The ministry did not disclose the number accepted. It also said acceptance activities for the Hürkuş-II new-generation basic trainer are scheduled for September 28 at Turkish Aerospace Industries' Kahramankazan facilities.
South Caucasus | Pashinyan Puts Meghri and Yeraskh Rail Work on Near-Term Agenda
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said Armenia would restore the Meghri and Yeraskh railway sections "in the near future," linking the work to the wider Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) project.
Pashinyan said Armenia was also waiting for the reopening of the Armenia-Türkiye railway. He said the combined network could create a rail connection between China, Central Asia, Türkiye and the European Union while restoring rail connectivity between the Persian Gulf and the Black Sea.
He gave no date for reopening the railway with Türkiye.
Markets | Fund Probe Reaches 45 Detentions
Nineteen of 21 suspects sent to court in the latest phase of Türkiye's capital-markets investigation were remanded in custody, bringing the number of suspects jailed pending trial in the wider investigation to 45.
The probe covers transactions involving Pusula Finans Holding, Tera Yatırım Menkul Değerler, Hedef Holding, Bulls Yatırım Menkul Değerler and related companies. Prosecutors had previously requested financial data from the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) on executives and associated entities.
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Erdoğan and Mitsotakis both kept the door open to dialogue in New York, but their public messages still differed over the Aegean dispute. Erdoğan said Türkiye is not Greece's enemy as the F-35 issue resurfaced, while Mitsotakis told the UN that dialogue cannot coexist with threats of war or unilateral actions. Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis used a broader argument, warning against a world ruled by power without principles.
Türkiye's Black Sea initiative is focused instead on protecting civilian shipping and reopening room for Russia-Ukraine diplomacy.
Sources: Republic of Cyprus Presidency, Turkish Cypriot Presidency, Türkiye's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Saudi Gazette, Reuters, Hellenic Ministry of National Defence, Israeli Prime Minister's Office, Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Türkiye's Ministry of National Defence, Office of the Prime Minister of Armenia, Anadolu Agency, Bosphorus News review and reporting.
Yesterday's brief: Eastern Mediterranean Strategic Brief | September 24: Cyprus, Makkah Alliance, Black Sea & Bashiqa