New US ambassador arrives in Turkiye

Jeff Flake, the new US ambassador to Turkiye, arrived in Istanbul on Friday.

Jeff Flake and his wife Cheryl touched down at Istanbul Airport at 12.05 p.m. local time (0905GMT).

"I'm glad to be here, and thank you so much for this great welcome," Flake told reporters at the airport in the Turkish metropolis.

Flake and his wife are expected to travel to the capital Ankara during the day.

He is set to succeed outgoing Ambassador David Satterfield, who has been at the position since June 2019.

The Senate confirmed Flake as the US' next envoy in Ankara on Oct. 26 following a months-long impasse.

Nominated in mid-July, Flake was a key Republican ally for President Joe Biden during the 2020 White House race and endorsed the Democratic nominee after establishing himself as a Republican at odds with former President Donald Trump.

Flake served on both the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee during his time in Congress, which spanned nearly two decades.