Turkish and German foreign ministers discuss Syria, Gaza, and Ukraine at NATO meeting
Residential areas and parked vehicles are damaged following an airstrike by a Su-22 fighter jet belonging to the Bashar al-Assad regime on the city center of Idlib, northwestern Syria, which kills three people, according to initial reports on December 1, 2024. (AA Photo)
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock held discussions Tuesday on pressing international developments, including the situations in Syria, Gaza, and Ukraine.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of the NATO Foreign Ministers Meeting in Brussels, according to the Turkish Foreign Ministry.
Germany’s Foreign Ministry emphasized Türkiye’s strategic importance in addressing regional crises, calling the country “a key player in the region” in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
The statement underscored the “central role” Türkiye plays in Syria and highlighted the need to prioritize the protection of civilians and minorities.
Fidan’s participation in the NATO meeting extended to the North Atlantic Council Foreign Ministers Working Session, part of the two-day gathering of alliance leaders in Belgium’s capital on Dec. 3-4.
The talks occurred amid a backdrop of escalating violence in Syria. Clashes between Assad regime forces and anti-regime armed groups intensified recently in the outskirts of Aleppo province. Between Nov. 27-30, anti-regime groups made rapid territorial gains, seizing control of much of the province’s central areas.
The NATO meeting in Brussels is expected to continue addressing key security challenges, with discussions focusing on collective defense and regional stability.
