Turkish source reportedly denies Rubio raised US concerns over protests in Türkiye as claimed

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio did not express concerns about arrests and protests in Türkiye in the manner he indicated in a social media post following his meeting with Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in Washington, a Turkish diplomatic source said Wednesday, according to a Reuters report.

Fidan and Rubio met Tuesday in Washington, marking the first official visit under President Donald Trump’s administration.

The two officials discussed a wide range of regional and bilateral issues, including the need for a permanent cease-fire in Gaza, which both agreed was critical for regional peace.

The meeting occurred amid ongoing protests in Türkiye, sparked by the detention and pending trial of former Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu.

Following the meeting, Rubio posted on X, stating: “I expressed concerns regarding recent arrests and protests in Türkiye.”

Met with Turkish Foreign Minister @HakanFidan today to discuss collaboration on trade and security benefiting both our countries. The U.S. is building on recent trade advancements made with Türkiye. We're also partnering together on key issues, from peace in Ukraine and the South… pic.twitter.com/0JkCxQRdKw

— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) March 25, 2025

However, the source reportedly denied that Rubio had raised those concerns in the same way. “The issue was touched upon in a different way than how it was reflected in the social media post,” the source, who requested anonymity, said, declining to provide further details.

According to the source, Türkiye believes Rubio’s statement was drafted prior to the talks. The discussions were described as “very positive,” with a strong emphasis on “mutual respect between the two countries.”

Meanwhile, the U.S. embassy in Ankara did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding Rubio’s meeting with Fidan.