Rubio to visit Middle East, skips Türkiye in first regional trip as US Secretary of State

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will make his first official visit to the Middle East in mid-February, the State Department confirmed on Thursday, notably omitting Türkiye from his itinerary.

Rubio will attend the Munich Security Conference before traveling to Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia from February 13-18, a senior State Department official said.

The visit follows controversial remarks by President Donald Trump about relocating Palestinians from Gaza, a proposal widely criticized by rights groups and Arab nations.

Türkiye not included in Rubio’s Middle East tour

Rubio’s decision to exclude Türkiye, a NATO ally and a key regional power, has raised questions about the Trump administration’s diplomatic priorities in the Middle East.

His visit will focus on discussions about Gaza‘s future, regional security, and U.S. efforts to reshape alliances in the region.

While Trump spearheaded normalization agreements between Israel and several Arab states during his first term, Türkiye was not part of those deals and has maintained a strong stance on Palestinian statehood.

In January, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a phone talk and agreed to continue strengthening cooperation between the two nations, focusing on mutual respect and trust. During a phone call, Fidan congratulated Rubio on his new role and discussed the future of bilateral relations, according to Turkish Foreign Ministry sources. Both officials emphasized the importance of working closely as allies according to the reports.

Gaza crisis and Trump’s displacement proposal

Trump caused global controversy on Tuesday after meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, suggesting that U.S. forces could occupy Gaza while its two million residents are relocated.

Rubio later clarified that Trump was referring to a temporary measure while the U.S. and allies financed Gaza’s reconstruction.

Speaking in the Dominican Republic earlier Thursday, Rubio hinted that Trump is looking for financial and logistical support from Gulf nations to rebuild Gaza.

“I think President Trump has offered to go in and be a part of that solution, and if some other country is willing to step forward and do it themselves, then that would be great,” Rubio said. “But no one seems to be rushing forward to do that, and that has to happen.”

A senior State Department official said that Trump had started the conversation on Gaza’s future, which Rubio would continue during his tour.

Regional response to US policy on Gaza

Trump’s remarks on relocating Palestinians to neighboring Arab states, such as Egypt and Jordan, have been widely rejected by regional leaders and Palestinian officials. The suggestion has heightened concerns over a permanent displacement, echoing historic fears among Palestinians of forced exile.

Israel’s military offensive in Gaza has resulted in over 47,000 Palestinian deaths over the past 16 months, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The offensive followed the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, which killed 1,200 people and led to the abduction of around 250 hostages.

Rubio’s emerging role in Middle East diplomacy

This trip marks Rubio’s second international tour since taking office. His first was to Latin America, underscoring his focus on relations.

Despite the appointment of real estate developer Steve Witkoff as Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, Rubio’s trip signals an effort to consolidate U.S. influence in a region undergoing geopolitical shifts. His predecessor, Antony Blinken, made 12 trips to the Middle East following the October 7, including efforts to negotiate a ceasefire and advance a Saudi-Israeli normalization deal.

While Trump brokered agreements between Israel and the UAE, Bahrain, and Morocco in his first term, Saudi Arabia has maintained that recognition of Israel would require progress toward a Palestinian state.