Current:Home > FinanceSecretary of State Blinken is returning to the Mideast in his latest diplomatic foray -SecureWealth Vault
Secretary of State Blinken is returning to the Mideast in his latest diplomatic foray
View
Date:2025-04-13 20:39:56
WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State Antony Blinkenis returning to the Middle Eastthis week on his 12th visit since the Israel-Hamas warerupted last year but his first since the ouster of Syrian President Bashar Assadthat has sparked new fears of instability in the region now wracked by three conflicts despite a ceasefire agreementin Lebanon.
Blinken will travel to Jordan and Turkey on Thursday and Friday for talks expected to focus largely on Syria but also touch on long-elusive hopes for a deal to end the fighting in Gaza that has devastated the territory since October 2023.
The State Department said Blinken would meet Jordanian officials, including King Abdullah II, in the port city of Aqaba on Thursday before flying to Ankara for meetings with Turkish officials Friday. Other stops in the region are also possible, officials said.
Blinken “will reiterate the United States’ support for an inclusive, Syrian-led transition to an accountable and representative government,” department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement.
“He will discuss the need for the transition process and new government in Syria to respect the rights of minorities, facilitate the flow of humanitarian assistance, prevent Syria from being used as a base of terrorism or posing a threat to its neighbors, and ensure that chemical weapons stockpiles are secured and safely destroyed,” Miller said.
Blinken will be the latest senior U.S. official to trek to the Middle East since Assad fled to Russia on Sunday as Democrat President Joe Biden prepares to leave office on Jan. 20, 2025, and Republican Donald Trump takes over.
Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, is in Israel. The commander of U.S. forces in the region visited American troops in Syria on Tuesday. Two top State Department officials — John Bass, undersecretary of state for political affairs, and Barbara Leaf, asistant secretary of state for Near East affairs, have been in the region since the weekend.
Trump, who has spoken of his desire to see the conflicts end before he is back in the White House, has sent designated Mideast envoy, Stephen Witkoff, to the region.
Disclaimer: The copyright of this article belongs to the original author. Reposting this article is solely for the purpose of information dissemination and does not constitute any investment advice. If there is any infringement, please contact us immediately. We will make corrections or deletions as necessary. Thank you.
veryGood! (21)
Related
- Jorge Ramos reveals his final day with 'Noticiero Univision': 'It's been quite a ride'
- Here's why we're pausing Save Our Shows poll for 2024
- Company helping immigrants in detention ordered to pay $811M+ in lawsuit alleging deceptive tactics
- A new election law battle is brewing in Georgia, this time over voter challenges
- Former Danish minister for Greenland discusses Trump's push to acquire island
- Amid surging mail theft, post offices failing to secure universal keys
- The amount of money Americans think they need to retire comfortably hits record high: study
- With some laughs, some stories, some tears, Don Winslow begins what he calls his final book tour
- Toyota to invest $922 million to build a new paint facility at its Kentucky complex
- Dave Coulier shares emotional 2021 voicemail from Bob Saget: 'I love you, Dave'
Ranking
- Are Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp down? Meta says most issues resolved after outages
- Police release name of man accused of ramming vehicle into front gate of FBI Atlanta office
- Suspect captured in Kentucky after Easter shooting left 1 dead, 7 injured at Nashville restaurant
- Longtime north Louisiana school district’s leader is leaving for a similar post in Texas
- Travis Hunter, the 2
- Family of Kaylee Gain, teen injured in fight, says she now has trouble speaking, walking
- Slump slammed! Bryce Harper's grand slam is third HR of game after hitless start to 2024
- Drawing nears for $1.09 billion Powerball jackpot that is 9th largest in US history
Recommendation
The White House is cracking down on overdraft fees
Police release name of man accused of ramming vehicle into front gate of FBI Atlanta office
With March Madness on, should I be cautious betting at work or in office pools? Ask HR
Helicopter footage shows rescue of California hiker dangling from cliff: 'Don't let go'
Juan Soto to be introduced by Mets at Citi Field after striking record $765 million, 15
Iowa-LSU clash in Elite Eight becomes most-watched women's basketball game ever
Hunter Biden's motions to dismiss tax charges all denied by judge
Houston police chief won’t say if thousands of dropped cases reveals bigger problems within agency