Turkey's Foreign Minister urges US to pressure Israel for broader regional peace

Speaking in New York at a forum celebrating the nearing centenary of Turkey-United States diplomatic relations, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan emphasized the durability of the alliance despite past disputes and noted a surge in cooperation linked to the close relationship between President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and President Donald Trump. He called on Washington to translate that momentum into concrete outcomes, urging the United States to wield its leverage over Israel to curb policies that destabilize the Middle East and beyond.

Fidan stressed that a sovereign, terrorism-free Syria and strong Iraqi institutions are essential for regional security, and advocated for “regional ownership” of stability. He warned that intertwined conflicts in Iran, Yemen and Israeli actions hinder diplomatic progress, and reiterated Turkey’s support for the Trump-backed Gaza peace plan. Beyond the Middle East, he suggested deeper collaboration on issues in the Caucasus, Black Sea, Ukraine, the Balkans and Africa, positioning the bilateral partnership as a tool for global peace in its second century.