Blinken: Turkey has pledged to play a ‘positive’ role in Gaza following the war

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has stated that Turkey is committed to contributing positively and productively to the situation in postwar Gaza. This statement came as Blinken began a critical diplomatic mission in the Middle East, marking his fourth visit in three months since the onset of the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Blinken’s journey, starting with discussions in Turkey and Greece, is focused on engaging with allies and partners in conversations about their roles in establishing lasting peace and security in the region. The trip is in response to increasing tensions in Lebanon, northern Israel, the Red Sea, and Iraq, which have strained the U.S.’s efforts to prevent wider regional conflict.

During his meetings in Istanbul with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Blinken discussed ways Turkey and others could exert influence, especially on Iran and its proxies, to de-escalate tensions. The talks also covered speeding up aid delivery to Gaza and planning for its reconstruction and governance. The discussions are crucial as much of Gaza has been devastated by Israeli bombardments.

In Greece, Blinken met with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, highlighting the challenging nature of these times. Following Greece, Blinken’s itinerary includes stops in Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Israel, the West Bank, and Egypt. His primary focus is protecting civilians, delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza, preventing further strikes by Hamas, and establishing frameworks for governance in Gaza and a secure Palestinian state.

Blinken’s ultimate goal is to achieve lasting peace in the region, and he is engaging in discussions about the contributions that U.S. allies and partners are willing to make towards this process.

Amidst this diplomatic effort, Turkey, particularly under President Erdogan, has been vocally critical of Israel and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the war’s conduct and its impact on Palestinian civilians. However, Blinken noted Turkey’s readiness to play a constructive role in the post-conflict period and in seeking sustainable peace and security.

Concurrently, increased attacks in the Red Sea and developments in Lebanon have escalated concerns. Hezbollah’s rocket attacks on northern Israel and disruptions in international trade by Yemen’s Houthi rebels have added urgency to the situation.

In his talks with Turkish officials, Blinken explored possibilities for Turkey’s involvement in Gaza’s reconstruction and security measures, as well as the ratification of Sweden’s NATO membership. Turkish officials, particularly Hakan Fidan, emphasized the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, uninterrupted humanitarian aid, and the initiation of negotiations for a two-state solution. Turkey is also awaiting a response regarding the upgrade of its F-16 fighter jets fleet and has indicated that the ratification of Sweden’s NATO membership is pending before the Turkish parliament.