Newsletters
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced Wednesday that he will meet with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Syrian Foreign Minister Assad Hassan al-Shaibani on Thursday, following an informal meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Antalya.
The announcement comes amid intense diplomatic efforts to address multiple regional conflicts, including the Russia-Ukraine war and ongoing tensions in Gaza, as well as recent developments regarding U.S. policy toward Syria.
Speaking with Turkish media outlet TRT Haber before the NATO informal foreign ministers' meeting began Wednesday, Fidan highlighted that the gathering will focus on preparations for the upcoming NATO Leaders Summit scheduled for June in The Hague, Netherlands.
"The fact that Türkiye is hosting the meeting adds to the importance of the talks," Fidan said.
According to the Turkish foreign minister, a key issue on NATO's agenda is determining "burden-sharing" ratios, which the U.S. has historically opposed. Fidan noted that U.S. President Donald Trump has emphasized this matter both during his first and current terms.
Fidan added that the European security architecture has undergone significant changes, with both the EU and NATO developing new initiatives and parameters for their member states. Defense spending limits, lifting of sanctions and restrictions on defense cooperation between allies, and resolving disputed areas are among the important agenda items.
Responding to questions about upcoming peace talks between Russia and Ukraine to be hosted by Türkiye in Istanbul, Fidan described the current diplomatic situation as "incredibly intense."
"Many parties are in talks with each other. There are talks planned for tomorrow in Istanbul. Some delegations have already been determined, and others are still being determined. The exact format is still not finalized," he said.
Fidan expressed cautious optimism about the negotiations: "I am a little more hopeful at this point. The intention of 'I want to stop this war' is important, but there are modalities, and trust must be established."
He emphasized Türkiye's role as a mediator, stating, "It is difficult to establish trust when you leave the two parties alone. Therefore, credible and trustworthy actors with high credibility must be involved. Türkiye is unquestionably one of the leading actors."
The foreign minister confirmed that both American and Russian delegations will be coming to Istanbul for the talks, and mentioned he would be meeting with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha later that day.
Addressing recent announcements about lifting sanctions on Syria, Fidan discussed the vision guiding Türkiye's efforts in the region, referring to his consultations with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
"The content of this vision is that not only Türkiye, but all stakeholders in the region should be involved in solving the Syrian issue and that the Europeans and Americans should play a positive role in this issue," Fidan stated.
He noted that Syrian President Ahmad al-Shaara and Shaibani are engaged in close diplomatic contact, and that "the new administration's diplomacy is well received around the world."
Fidan described the upcoming meeting between Türkiye, the U.S., Saudi Arabia, and Syria as "historic" and positive. He indicated that Türkiye expects investments in Syria to increase once sanctions are officially lifted.
The foreign minister revealed that President Erdogan had raised concerns about both the war in Gaza and joint work to improve the situation in Syria during talks with President Trump, who reportedly responded positively to Erdogan's requests.
"It is critical that Türkiye's constructive role in Syria is recognized. This is really a matter of trust," Fidan concluded.
1 min read
