Fidan discusses regional tensions with Azerbaijani, Bulgarian counterparts

2026-03-02 - 12:42

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan conducted telephone diplomacy Monday with his Azerbaijani and Bulgarian counterparts as part of Türkiye's efforts to manage escalating regional tensions, Turkish diplomatic sources confirmed. Fidan spoke with Azerbaijan's Jeyhun Bayramov and Bulgaria's Nadejda Neynski to discuss the rapidly deteriorating security situation following major military strikes in the region. Focus on De-escalation and Consequences The conversations addressed the latest regional developments, with particular focus on efforts to end ongoing attacks and manage their consequences, according to sources. Türkiye has intensified diplomatic engagement across multiple channels as neighboring regions face growing instability. The calls reflect Ankara's concern over potential spillover effects and its traditional role as a mediator and stability actor in its broader neighborhood. Regional Crisis Context The diplomatic outreach follows Saturday's US-Israeli attack on Iran, which killed several senior Iranian leaders including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Tehran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel and Gulf countries hosting US military assets, dramatically expanding the conflict's geographic scope. Türkiye maintains communication lines with multiple parties to the conflict while advocating for restraint and seeking to prevent further escalation that could threaten regional security and stability.