Blinken speaks to Turkish leaders, seeks to prevent war escalation

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Turkey's leaders to discuss easing tensions and providing humanitarian aid to Gaza. He also addressed the increased strains in Lebanon, Israel, the Red Sea, and Iraq. Blinken sought contributions from Turkey for Gaza's reconstruction and emphasized the importance of Turkey's ratification of Sweden's Nato membership. The Turkish officials called for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza and expressed concerns about Israel's aggression. Blinken later met with Greece's prime minister and will continue his diplomatic mission in Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Israel, the West Bank, and Egypt.