After the earthquake, the USA sent rescue teams and provided 85 million dollars (almost 80 million euros) in emergency aid. US helicopters bring relief supplies to the hardest hit areas.

It is Blinken's first visit to Turkey since he took office two years ago. A meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is scheduled for Monday in Ankara. Among other things, it should be about Turkey's plans to buy US F-16 fighter jets, which have so far been blocked by the US Congress. Blinken is also likely to bring up Turkey's blocking of Sweden's and Finland's NATO accession plans.