In a significant diplomatic meeting on Friday, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken convened in Ankara to discuss key regional issues, including combating terrorism, achieving stability in Syria, and calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
Addressing a joint press conference, Fidan emphasized the mutual priorities of Türkiye and the United States in ensuring stability in Syria and preventing the dominance of terrorist organizations such as the Islamic State (IS) and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). “Our priorities include ensuring stability in Syria and preventing the dominance of terrorist organizations such as IS and the PKK,” Fidan stated.
Fidan highlighted the alignment between the two nations in addressing the region’s challenges, noting that their discussions focused on exploring solutions to Syria’s ongoing crisis and broader regional issues. “We agreed that a ceasefire in Gaza should be reached as soon as possible,” he added, underscoring the urgency of resolving the conflict.
Blinken acknowledged Türkiye’s influential role in mediating towards a ceasefire in Gaza, particularly regarding negotiations with Hamas. He affirmed the broad agreement on expectations for an interim government in Syria—one that is inclusive, protects minority rights, rejects extremism, and poses no threats to its neighbors. “We discussed Gaza, and we discussed, I think, the opportunity to get a ceasefire in place. And what we’ve seen in the last couple of weeks are more encouraging signs that that is possible,” Blinken remarked.
The two officials reiterated their commitment to ongoing counter-IS efforts, highlighting the importance of collaboration in combating terrorism and promoting regional security.
Blinken arrived in the Turkish capital on Thursday following a visit to Jordan. Earlier, he held discussions with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the situation in Syria, further solidifying the commitment of both nations to address the pressing issues in the region.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
