Antony Blinken to Engage in Diplomatic Discussions in Turkey Regarding the Situation in Syria

Istanbul, Dec 12 (NationPress) US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is poised to visit Turkey on Friday for significant discussions concerning Syria's continuing political turmoil after the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad, according to the Turkish Foreign Ministry.

Blinken is anticipated to meet with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in Ankara to deliberate on Syria's transition and wider regional matters, including recent events in Israel, Gaza, and Lebanon, as reported by the Xinhua news agency citing the ministry's statement.

This visit occurs at a pivotal moment for Syria, which is now led by a recently established transitional government after al-Assad sought asylum in Russia.

Turkey has consistently voiced its concerns regarding the influence of Kurdish factions in Syria.

Ankara perceives the US-backed Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units as an extension of the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party, a group it has fought against for many years.

Blinken's diplomatic journey will also feature a stop in Jordan, where he is expected to meet officials in Aqaba to foster consensus on Syria's future and tackle other urgent challenges across the Middle East, according to a statement from the US State Department released on Wednesday.