Ankara Summit: Turkish and French Ministers Discuss Deepening Cooperation and Resolving Regional Flashpoints

The Foreign Ministers of Turkey, Hakan Fidan, and France, Jean-Noël Barrot, met in Ankara to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the commercial, economic, and political spheres. A key focus was addressing obstacles in Turkey-European Union relations, specifically aiming for an update to the Customs Union and progress on visa liberalization. The ministers also exchanged perspectives on critical geopolitical issues, including the situation in Ukraine, Syria, Iran, and the latest developments in the Gaza Strip. Furthermore, they discussed implementing continuous measures to ensure the uninterrupted fight against ISIS.

Minister Barrot emphasized the anticipated opening of the Rafah crossing in the coming days and stressed the critical need for unrestricted humanitarian aid access to Gaza. France also affirmed its support for the normalization of relations between Turkey, Armenia, and Azerbaijan.