U.S. Secretary of State meets with Turkey’s leaders amid fears of conflict in the Middle East
CHANIA, Greece (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Turkey’s leaders Saturday during the first stop of his latest Mideast diplomatic mission as fears grow that Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza may expand into a broader conflict.
Blinken’s visit comes in the midst of strained relations between Turkey and the U.S. over a variety of issues, and the ongoing crisis in the Middle East has added another layer of complexity to their discussions.
During his meeting with Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and foreign minister, Hakan Fidan, in Istanbul, Blinken discussed the current developments in Lebanon, northern Israel, the Red Sea, and Iraq, which have put intense strains on U.S. efforts to prevent a regional conflagration since Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7.
The U.S. has been seeking assistance from Turkey to exert influence, particularly on Iran and its proxies, to ease tensions, speed humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza, and begin planning for reconstruction and governance of postwar Gaza.
One of the major challenges faced by the U.S. and its allies in the region is the stepped-up attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels, which have disrupted international trade. The coalition of countries has issued a final warning to the Houthis to cease their attacks on vessels or face potential targeted military action.
From the Turkish officials, Blinken sought at least consideration of potential monetary or in-kind contributions to reconstruction efforts in Gaza and participation in security arrangements. Additionally, Blinken emphasized the need to prevent the conflict from spreading and work toward broader, lasting peace that ensures Israel’s security and advances the establishment of a Palestinian state.
Blinken’s schedule includes further meetings in Greece, and visits to Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Israel, the West Bank, and Egypt. The U.S. Secretary of State is aiming to build a unified international response to the escalating crisis in the Middle East, and the outcome of his meetings in the region will be closely monitored.
The Associated Press writer Andrew Wilks in Istanbul contributed to this report.