US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with senior Turkish officials in Istanbul before heading to Greece, his first stop on a week-long trip aimed at easing tensions that have been rising in the Middle East since the start of the Israeli war against Gaza in October.
During his meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Blinken “stressed the need to prevent the spread of the conflict, ensure the release of hostages, expand humanitarian aid and reduce civilian casualties,” he said. US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said on Saturday.
Blinken also emphasized the need to work toward a broader, lasting regional peace that ensures Israel’s security and advances Palestinian statehood, Miller added.
“In Turkey, we have been largely focused on what Turkey can do, using its influence, using its connections, to help prevent the spread of conflict in the Middle East,” Blinken said, speaking to reporters in Crete on Saturday evening.
“We also talked about the role that Turkey can play, both in the aftermath for Gaza, in terms of difficult issues of Palestinian-led governance, security, reconstruction, as well as the work it can do to try to produce more. lasting peace and security in the region.
Erdogan, a fierce critic of Israeli military actions in Gaza, missed a meeting with Blinken when the US diplomat visited Ankara in November due to Washington’s unwavering support for the Israeli assault on Gaza.
On Saturday, Blinken also met with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and discussions focused on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said.
In his conversation with Blinken, Fidan highlighted the escalation of Israeli aggression, saying it poses a threat to the entire region. He also stressed the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, allowing for the continued delivery of aid, and stressed the need to return to negotiations on a two-state solution as soon as possible, added the ministry.
Minister of Foreign Affairs @HakanFidan met with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the Vahdettin Mansion in Istanbul.
At the meeting, the ministers discussed the war and humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Sweden’s NATO accession process and bilateral and regional issues. 🇹🇷🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/UvHbV5YoDs
– Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (@MFATurkiye) January 6, 2024
” De-escalation “
Strained relations between the United States and Turkey predate the current war, with the two countries also feuding over foreign policy issues ranging from NATO to Iraq.
Ankara is frustrated by the delay in US Congress approving a $20 billion deal for 40 F-16 fighter jets. Washington is waiting for Turkey to ratify Sweden’s candidacy for NATO.
On Saturday, Blinken and Fidan discussed Ankara’s process to ratify Sweden’s membership in NATO, according to officials on both sides. Blinken said they discussed the “final steps of the process.”
U.S. officials are confident Ankara will soon approve Sweden’s membership after it won support from Turkey’s parliament last month, a senior traveling State Department official told Reuters news agency with Blinken.
As part of Blinken’s multi-country tour, he traveled from Turkey to the island of Crete to meet with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Saturday. Greece, another NATO member, is awaiting approval from the US Congress for the sale of F-35 fighter jets.
After Greece, Blinken’s tour in the coming days will include Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Israel and the occupied West Bank, where he will deliver the message that Washington does not want of a regional escalation of the conflict in Gaza. . Blinken also hopes to make progress in negotiations over how Gaza could be governed if and when Israel achieves its goal of eradicating Hamas.
Blinken’s trip conveys “three main messages,” said Mahjoob Zweiri, a professor of Gulf studies at Qatar University: de-escalation of the conflict; the humanitarian crisis; and what happens the day after the war ends.
“Washington does not seem satisfied with the Netanyahu government’s statements regarding the displacement of the population. They seem to want to put pressure on Netanyahu, especially with London, Paris and Germany saying the status quo in Gaza should not be changed,” Zweiri told Tel Aviv Tribune.
Blinken said Washington wants regional countries, including Turkey, to play a role in reconstruction, governance and potentially security in the Gaza Strip, ruled by Hamas since 2007.
At least 22,722 people have been killed and 58,166 injured in Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7. The revised death toll from the October attack on Israel stands at 1,139 people.