VIDEO: Airport in Darkness, No Officials Present: Blinken's Arrival in Ankara
No senior officials were present to welcome U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken upon his arrival in Ankara. Notably, the airport was not illuminated, as reported by Turkish media.
Social media users have pointed out that U.S. Ambassador Jeffrey Flake welcomed Blinken with his hands in his pockets. Some users believe that the American politician got what he deserved.
Journalists report that after greeting those waiting for him in the darkness, Blinken got into his car. Earlier, the U.S. Secretary of State had been in Baghdad, where he announced that American and Israeli officials were holding consultations on practical issues related to the potential establishment of humanitarian pauses amidst military operations in the Gaza Strip.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan criticized Blinken for his subjective approach to the escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, asserting that the U.S. Secretary is approaching the crisis based on his national identity.
Today, Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Blinken are set to hold talks regarding the situation in Gaza.