The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey, Hakan Fidan, today met in Istanbul with the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, and discussed a number of bilateral and regional issues, including the current situation in the Gaza Strip, the process of Turkey’s ratification of Sweden’s accession to NATO, and the US approval of Turkey’s purchase of F-16 fighter jets.
The meeting of the two ministers, and then the meeting of the wider delegations of the two countries, was held in Istanbul’s Vahdettin Palace and lasted for about two hours, AA reports.
“At the meeting, the ministers discussed the war and humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the process of Sweden joining NATO, bilateral and regional issues,” the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on the X social network.
Turkey is the first stop of Blinken’s multi-day tour, during which he will visit Greece, Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Israel, the West Bank and Egypt until January 11.
During his regional tour, according to the US State Department, Blinken will emphasize the protection of civilian lives, the release of hostages, the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza, the restoration of basic services and the prevention of the forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza.
They will also address urgent steps to reduce violence, calm rhetoric and ease tensions, including deterring attacks by Yemen’s Houthi movement in the Red Sea and avoiding escalation in Lebanon.
The State Department also announced that Blinken will reaffirm the US commitment to work with partners for peace in the Middle East.
His visit comes amid a growing humanitarian disaster in the Gaza Strip due to Israel’s blockade and heavy attacks since October 7.
