ISTANBUL, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to visit Türkiye on Friday for high-level talks on Syria's ongoing political upheaval following the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.
Blinken is expected to meet Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in Ankara to discuss Syria's transition and broader regional issues, including developments in Israel, Gaza, and Lebanon, according to a statement from the ministry.
The visit comes as Syria navigates a critical juncture, with a newly formed transitional government assuming power after al-Assad's departure to Russia for asylum.
Türkiye has long expressed concerns over the role of Kurdish groups in Syria. Ankara views the U.S.-backed Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units as an extension of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party, which it has battled for decades.
Blinken's regional tour will also include a stop in Jordan, where he is expected to meet officials in Aqaba to build consensus on Syria's future and address other pressing issues across the Middle East, the U.S. State Department said on Wednesday. ■
