US secretary of state arrives in Türkiye to discuss Syria, Gaza

By Esra Tekin and Mehmet Sah Yilmaz

ANKARA (AA) – US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in the Turkish capital of Ankara on Thursday to meet with Türkiye’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.

Blinken was greeted at the airport by Ambassador Ahmet Cemil Miroglu, director general of the Turkish Foreign Ministry's Protocol Department; Michael Goldman, charge d'affaires of the US Embassy in Ankara; and several other officials.

Blinken, who visited Jordan before arriving in Türkiye, is expected to meet with Minister Fidan on Friday.

Blinken's visit is expected to focus on the transition process following the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria and the country’s political process, as well as a possible cease-fire agreement in Gaza, according to a statement from the US Department of State.

Blinken's visit is expected to focus on the transition process following the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria, the country's political process, and a possible cease-fire agreement in Gaza, according to a statement from the US Department of State.

Fidan and his US counterpart Blinken discussed the latest developments in Syria over the phone on Dec. 7 and 10.