Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met on Friday in Ankara to address pressing regional issues, including combating terrorism and achieving stability in Syria. Both officials underscored the urgency of establishing an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
“Our priorities include ensuring stability in Syria and preventing the dominance of terrorist organizations such as IS (Islamic State) and the PKK (Kurdistan Workers’ Party),” Fidan stated during a joint press conference with Blinken.
Fidan emphasized the alignment between Türkiye and the United States in tackling key challenges. He noted that their discussions focused on exploring solutions to the ongoing crisis in Syria and addressing broader regional concerns.
“We agreed that a ceasefire in Gaza should be reached as soon as possible,” he added, highlighting the humanitarian necessity of ending the conflict.
Blinken acknowledged Türkiye’s influential role in the region, particularly in persuading parties toward a hostage ceasefire agreement in Gaza. He reiterated the shared vision for Syria, emphasizing the need for an inclusive interim government that protects minority rights, rejects extremism, and poses no threats to neighboring countries.
“We discussed Gaza and the opportunity to get a ceasefire in place. What we’ve seen in the last couple of weeks are more encouraging signs that this is possible,” Blinken remarked.
The meeting also reinforced the commitment of both nations to ongoing efforts against the Islamic State. Blinken and Fidan stressed the importance of continued collaboration in combating terrorism to ensure regional and global security.
Blinken’s visit to Ankara followed a trip to Jordan. Upon his arrival on Thursday, he met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to discuss the situation in Syria, further signifying the deepening diplomatic engagement between Türkiye and the United States on critical regional issues.
(With input from agencies)
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
