Blinken Pushes for Mideast Unity on Peaceful Syria Transition

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is concluding his visit to Turkey with discussions with Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Friday. His efforts focus on gaining regional support for a peaceful political transition in Syria. This visit is part of his broader mission to unify Middle Eastern nations, following the recent change in Syria’s leadership with President Bashar al-Assad’s ousting.

During his trip, Blinken met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to align Turkey with international efforts to prevent further destabilization in Syria. The U.S. is concerned that Syria’s instability could worsen tensions across the region and potentially allow the Islamic State (ISIS) to regain control in parts of Syria.

The U.S. has supported the Syrian Defense Forces, a Kurdish group, in the fight against ISIS, but Turkey views them as a threat. Blinken emphasized the importance of continuing to combat ISIS while pursuing a Syrian political transition that ensures the protection of women’s and minority rights, as well as the dismantling of chemical weapons.

Later in his trip, Blinken will head back to Aqaba, Jordan, to meet with Arab foreign ministers and officials from the European Union, Arab League, and the United Nations. The meetings will focus on supporting a Syrian-led political process aimed at rebuilding the country’s institutions, preserving its unity and security, and ensuring the rights of its citizens.