Erdogan belittles Blinken during visit to Turkey’s northeast, says AFP
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to Turkey has attracted attention in the foreign press, particularly the French news agency AFP. In their news report, the agency used intriguing expressions to capture the significance of Blinken’s visit.
The headline of the news report stated, “Blinken is trying to calm Turkey’s anger in Ankara.” This highlights the challenging nature of Blinken’s visit to Ankara and emphasizes the fact that Turkey and the United States are allies.
The news report also highlighted that Blinken’s main objective was to assuage Turkey’s anger over the recent bloodshed in Gaza. It was observed that this anger spilled over onto the streets of Turkey, with protests against both Israel and the West being held.
In addition, AFP mentioned a protest demonstration that took place over the weekend in front of Incirlik Base in Adana, and made reference to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s visit to Rize in northeastern Turkey. The news report conveyed a sense that Erdoğan’s decision to travel to Rize instead of meeting with Blinken belittled the US Secretary of State.
Overall, Blinken’s visit to Turkey has generated significant attention in the foreign press due to the delicate nature of the bilateral relationship and the need to address Turkey’s concerns over the situation in Gaza.
