International

Blinken shuttles between Gaza, F-16s, and NATO in Mideast

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's current trip through the Middle East tackles several pressing issues, including the escalating conflict in Gaza, sensitive arms deals, and a stalled NATO accession.

Blinken kicks off his visit in Istanbul on Saturday, holding talks with Turkish officials on the Israeli-Palestinian tension in Gaza. Turkey, a NATO member, has been a vocal critic of Israel's offensive against Hamas in the territory.

Beyond Gaza, Blinken faces the delicate task of addressing Turkey's long-delayed purchase of F-16 fighter jets from the US, currently frozen by Congress.

"Progressions from the US regarding F-16s and fulfilling promises will expedite our parliament's positive opinion. Everything is correlated," Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated previously, highlighting the link between the arms deal and Turkey's stance on regional issues.

Sweden's stalled NATO bid due to Turkish objections will also be on the agenda. While a parliamentary committee approved ratification, the full legislature's final vote remains pending.

After Turkey, Blinken heads to Greece for discussions with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, focusing on Gaza, the war in Ukraine, and other undisclosed topics.

The tour, stretching until January 11th, takes Blinken to Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Israel (including the West Bank), and Egypt.

"We don't expect all discussions to be easy. Clearly, the region faces challenges and tough decisions, but the Secretary believes it's the US's responsibility to lead diplomatic efforts to address these," a State Department spokesperson explained.

Blinken's ambitious itinerary reflects the US's commitment to navigating the intricate political landscape of the Middle East and seeking solutions to its numerous flashpoints.

Translation by Iurie Tataru

Dumitru Petruleac

Dumitru Petruleac

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