Blinken set to visit Turkey on Sunday

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to Turkey on Sunday to see firsthand US efforts to assist the Turkish authorities responding to the devastation caused by the Feb.6 earthquakes.

During the visit, Blinken will also meet his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu.

According to his office, Blinken will start his Turkey visit with Incirlik Air Base in Southern Adana province which is home to US Air Force for decades.

“He will then travel to Ankara, where he will meet with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and other senior Turkish officials to discuss continued US support to Türkiye and the Turkish people after the devastating earthquakes, as well as ways to further strengthen our partnership with Türkiye as a valued NATO Ally,” Blinken’s office said.

Secretary Blinken will also thank the Government of Türkiye for its support for cross-border aid to affected areas of Syria, it said.

The US President Joe Biden on Feb.6, authorized an immediate US response and directed the heads of federal agencies to rapidly mobilize to assist the Turkish government and US partners in Syria. Washington administration deployed Disaster Assistance Response Teams to earthquake-hit Turkey and announced that it will provide $85 million for humanitarian needs for Turkey and Syria.