Senior US official in Turkey to discuss regional tensions, Erdogan-Biden summit
ANKARA — Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met with Acting Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs John Bass on Monday, as diplomatic activity between Ankara and Washington ramps up ahead of the Turkish president’s expected visit to the White House.
In addition to laying the groundwork for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s upcoming meeting with President Joe Biden at the White House in early May, Fidan and Bass also discussed regional conflicts, including the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, as well as the situation in Syria, Turkish public broadcaster TRT reported, citing Turkish diplomatic sources. Bass is in Turkey on a two-day visit and will then travel to Italy, another NATO partner.
After the meeting, Bass noted that the pair discussed the “importance of the safety of civilians and aid workers in Gaza” as well as “support for Ukraine’s democracy and freedom” and “deepening counterterrorism cooperation” between the two countries.
“[Turkey] is a key Ally and partner with whom we communicate and cooperate on the most important regional and global issues,” he wrote on the social platform X.
