Türkiye's Fidan attends ministerial meeting on Jerusalem in Jordan

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan traveled to Jordan's capital on Wednesday to attend a ministerial meeting dedicated to Jerusalem, according to a statement released by the Foreign Ministry on the NSosyal platform. The ministry said Fidan took part in the Amman-hosted gathering, though it offered no immediate details regarding the specific agenda items or the full list of attending delegations.

The meeting convened as regional capitals intensify diplomatic consultations over the status of the occupied city, which remains at the heart of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Jerusalem hosts the Al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam's third holiest site, alongside significant Christian and Jewish holy places.

Jordan's Custodial Role

Amman maintains a unique position in Jerusalem affairs under the kingdom's 1994 peace treaty with Israel, which recognizes Jordan's special role as custodian of Muslim and Christian holy shrines in the city. This status has placed Jordan at the forefront of international efforts to prevent unilateral changes to the city's demographic or legal character, according to diplomatic sources familiar with the preparations.

Türkiye has historically supported Palestinian sovereignty claims in East Jerusalem, with Ankara repeatedly warning against Israeli settlement expansion and restrictions on worshippers accessing the Al-Aqsa compound. Fidan's presence at the Jordan-hosted meeting signals continued coordination between Ankara and Arab states on preserving the city's Islamic identity, analysts said.

Fidan's Regional Diplomacy

The foreign minister's visit to Amman follows a series of high-level engagements across the Middle East since the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023. A former head of Türkiye's National Intelligence Organization who assumed the foreign ministry portfolio in June 2023, Fidan has positioned Ankara as an active mediator in regional conflicts while maintaining strong ties with both Arab states and Palestinian factions.

Jordan's King Abdullah II has repeatedly warned that Israeli policies in Jerusalem threaten regional stability, particularly regarding attempts to alter the status quo at the Al-Aqsa Mosque. The Amman meeting represents the latest effort by regional foreign ministers to present a unified stance on the holy city ahead of anticipated diplomatic initiatives in the coming months.