Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is expected to travel to Washington on Tuesday to meet US officials, with talks set to focus on Syria and on Ankara potentially re-entering the F-35 fighter jet programme.
Mr Fidan, who met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio last month, is expected to push for US sanctions on Syria to be lifted, according to written comments provided by a Foreign Ministry official before the trip.
The US, which has so far been reluctant to wade into Syria's turbulent politics, has left most of the sanctions levied against the regime of former president Bashar Al Assad in place, despite international calls for them to be lifted.
The Turkish official is likely to push for deeper co-ordination between Ankara and Washington on Syria, and the continuing need to combat ISIS. Discussions are also expected to touch on badly needed humanitarian assistance and reconstruction in the country.
Mr Fidan is also expected to raise Turkey’s desire to return to the F-35 programme. Ankara lost access to the advanced planes when it signed a deal with Russia in 2017 to buy its S-400 anti-aircraft system.
The concern from Washington was that Turkey could test the S-400's radar on F-35 jets. Through the F-35 programme, Turkey would be allowed both to buy and manufacture the planes domestically. After the purchase of the Russian anti-aircraft system, Turkey was denied the planes and the US hit Ankara with sanctions.
After a phone call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan last week, US President Donald Trump expressed openness to the idea of selling Turkey F-35 jets if there was an agreement that rendered the Russian S-400 system inoperable, Fox News reported, citing sources.
Mr Fidan's visit comes as protests have erupted across Turkey after the arrest of Istanbul’s mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, who is accused of corruption.
Mr Imamoglu, a popular figure in the city, is seen as a potential challenger to Mr Erdogan, who has been in power for more than two decades. The Turkish government has denied the arrest was politically motivated.
Both Turkey and the US have sent invitations for President-level visits, but no dates are set, a Turkish Foreign Ministry official told The National.
Lizzie Porter contributed to this report from Istanbul
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1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
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In
- Raed Mozafar Abu Al Saoud, Minister of Water and Irrigation
- Dr Bassam Samir Al Talhouni, Minister of Justice
- Majd Mohamed Shoueikeh, State Minister of Development of Foundation Performance
- Azmi Mahmud Mohafaza, Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research
- Falah Abdalla Al Ammoush, Minister of Public Works and Housing
- Basma Moussa Ishakat, Minister of Social Development
- Dr Ghazi Monawar Al Zein, Minister of Health
- Ibrahim Sobhi Alshahahede, Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Environment
- Dr Mohamed Suleiman Aburamman, Minister of Culture and Minister of Youth
Out
- Dr Adel Issa Al Tawissi, Minister of High Education and Scientific Research
- Hala Noaman “Basiso Lattouf”, Minister of Social Development
- Dr Mahmud Yassin Al Sheyab, Minister of Health
- Yahya Moussa Kasbi, Minister of Public Works and Housing
- Nayef Hamidi Al Fayez, Minister of Environment
- Majd Mohamed Shoueika, Minister of Public Sector Development
- Khalid Moussa Al Huneifat, Minister of Agriculture
- Dr Awad Abu Jarad Al Mushakiba, Minister of Justice
- Mounir Moussa Ouwais, Minister of Water and Agriculture
- Dr Azmi Mahmud Mohafaza, Minister of Education
- Mokarram Mustafa Al Kaysi, Minister of Youth
- Basma Mohamed Al Nousour, Minister of Culture
