U.S. Secretary of State Blinken, Turkey's Foreign Minister Fidan talk Gaza, Sweden's NATO membership during Turkey visit

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U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Jan. 6 visited Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in Istanbul. They talked about the crisis in Gaza and Sweden's NATO accession process. 

No joint statement followed the two-hour meeting at the Vahdettin Mansion in Istanbul’s Üsküdar district. Minister Fidan stated to Blinken that Turkey expected the culmination of the F-16 jet purchase from the U.S., and the Turkish Parliament had the final say regarding Sweden’s NATO membership, according to reporting by the Anadolu Agency (AA). 

Fidan called for an immediate ceasefire, emphasized the need for continued humanitarian aid to Gaza, and called U.S. officials to start the negotiations for a two-state solution. 

An anonymous U.S. Department of State official stated to Reuters that they were confident Ankara would accept Sweden’s NATO ascension, although disappointed about the drawn-out process. 

The U.S. Department of State published a press statement on Blinken’s meeting with President Erdoğan that followed. Blinken underlined the need to “work toward broader, lasting regional peace that ensures Israel’s security and advances the establishment of a Palestinian state,” according to the Department.

The statement also noted that Secretary Blinken and President Erdogan discussed completing Sweden’s accession to NATO.

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