Washington DC, March 25, 2025 – The Europe Today: Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio are set to meet on Tuesday in Washington DC, marking the first high-level engagement under President Donald Trump’s new administration. The talks aim to strengthen Türkiye-US relations and lay the groundwork for future high-level visits between the two nations.
Fidan is also scheduled to meet other senior US officials to discuss key regional and bilateral matters.
Key Topics of Discussion
🔹 Regional Issues: Ukraine, Palestine, and Syria, with a focus on security and stability.
🔹 Syria Policy: Ankara’s emphasis on Syria’s territorial integrity, lifting sanctions, and expanding humanitarian aid efforts.
🔹 Counterterrorism Cooperation: Türkiye’s concerns regarding PKK/YPG elements within the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO).
🔹 Russia-Ukraine Conflict: Türkiye’s diplomatic efforts to mediate an end to the war and support for US-led ceasefire initiatives.
🔹 Gaza Crisis: Urging greater US efforts for a permanent ceasefire and increased humanitarian aid for Palestinians.
🔹 Defense Cooperation: Discussions on lifting CAATSA sanctions, Türkiye’s return to the F-35 program, and overcoming barriers in defense procurement.
🔹 Economic Ties: Aligning defense cooperation with geopolitical realities and striving to achieve a $100 billion trade volume between the two nations.
Erdogan’s Call for Stronger Türkiye-US Relations
Ahead of the meeting, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expressed optimism about expanding cooperation with Washington, despite external pressures.
“I believe that we should and will achieve this for the sake of our region, despite all the challenges, particularly lobbies seeking to poison the two countries’ cooperation,” Erdoğan stated after a Cabinet meeting.
He also disclosed that he had a phone call with President Donald Trump on March 16, during which they discussed economic and regional issues, particularly Syria.
The Fidan-Rubio talks are expected to shape the future trajectory of Türkiye-US relations, focusing on security, economic, and diplomatic engagements.
