Turkish, US top officials convene in Ankara for strategic talks

On September 17, 2024, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met with US Deputy Secretary of State John Bass in Ankara.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry announced the meeting via its social media page X, Caliber.Az reports.

Bakanımız @HakanFidan, ABD Dışişleri Bakanlığı Siyasi İşler Müsteşar Vekili John Bass'ı Ankara’da kabul etti. pic.twitter.com/Hk90pIopdL

— T.C. Dışişleri Bakanlığı (@TC_Disisleri) September 17, 2024

This latest discussion follows their previous meeting in April, where they addressed key issues including the escalating situation in the Gaza Strip, the conflicts in Syria and Ukraine, and the ongoing fight against ISIS, FETÖ, and PKK.

John Bass, who is currently serving as Acting US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs is visiting Ankara after his trip to Islamabad. The visit aims to reinforce the strong bilateral relationship between the US and Türkiye and to discuss collaborative efforts to promote peace and stability in the region.

The relationship between Türkiye and the US has seen a positive shift since January, when Turkey ratified Sweden’s NATO membership, ending a nearly two-year reservation. This move significantly advanced the security alliance’s expansion, a priority in light of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In turn, the US approved Türkiye’s request to purchase F-16 fighter jets.

John Bass previously served as the US ambassador to Türkiye from 2014 to 2017.