UPDATE 2 - Turkish foreign minister holds talks with counterparts on sidelines of NATO meeting

UPDATES WITH MORE MEETINGS, ADDS DETAILS

By Muhammed Enes Calli

ISTANBUL (AA) - Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met with his counterparts Tuesday on the sidelines of a NATO meeting in Brussels.

Fidan was in the Belgian capital to attend the two-day NATO foreign ministers meeting, which will address the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East as well as growing strategic competition.

He met with his Estonian counterpart Margus Tsahkna to discuss bilateral relations and recent developments in Ukraine.

Fidan and Tsahkna also exchanged views on current developments regarding the alliance, according to the Turkish Foreign Ministry.

Separately, Fidan held a closed-door meeting with his Albanian counterpart Igli Hasani.

"In the meeting, the ministers confirmed their determination to strengthen cooperation between Türkiye & Albania in all fields. They also exchanged views on the latest developments regarding the Balkan region and Gaza," the ministry said on X.

Fidan also held separate talks with his Norwegian counterpart Espen Barth Eide and Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom on the margins of the NATO meeting.

"During the meetings that took place at the Permanent Representation of Türkiye to NATO, bilateral issues as well as the latest situation in Gaza & Sweden's accession process to NATO were discussed," the ministry said.

It added that Fidan also had “pull-aside meetings” with his counterparts during the NATO meeting, including with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly to discuss the human tragedy in Gaza and current issues concerning the Alliance.

Holding a closed-door meeting with British Foreign Secretary David Cameron, Fidan exchanged views on bilateral relations and recent developments in Gaza and Ukraine.

Earlier, the Turkish foreign minister met separately with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

*Diyar Guldogan in Washington contributed to this story