US President Donald Trump touched down in Ankara on Tuesday (local time) for the NATO summit, receiving a ceremonial welcome from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at Etimesgut Air Base. The White House shared visuals of the arrival on social media, stating, "President Donald J. Trump Arrives in Turkey and is greeted by the President, @RTErdogan, ahead of the NATO summit."
Summit Agenda and Bilateral Talks
The high-profile NATO summit, scheduled for July 7-8, comes amid ongoing tensions within the alliance regarding defence spending, burden-sharing, and the US role in European security. White House Spokesperson Anna Kelly outlined Trump's schedule, which includes a NATO Leaders' Social Dinner, an official welcome and family photo, and a working session. Trump will also hold bilateral meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa on the sidelines of the summit. Kelly added, "Finally, the President will hold a press conference before departing from Ankara. He will arrive back at the White House on Wednesday evening."
Shifting Alliances and Erdogan's Role
For years, many NATO allies viewed Turkey with suspicion for purchasing a Russian air defence system, attacking Western-backed Kurdish forces in Syria, and stalling Sweden's bid to join the alliance, as reported by the Washington Post. However, Trump has flipped the perspective by calling NATO a 'paper tiger' and stating that he is only attending this year's summit for Erdogan, highlighting rocky relations between Trump and his European allies. Erdogan told a recent meeting of his AK Party, "Ankara's international visibility will increase more than ever before, and our capital will make a name for itself as a centre of global diplomacy," according to the Washington Post. Trump has endorsed Erdogan in recent weeks, calling him "a friend of mine" and "a hell of a leader."
