US President Donald Trump is set to depart the White House on Monday evening to visit Turkey for the NATO Leaders' Social Dinner, a high-profile gathering scheduled for July 7-8. White House Spokesperson Anna Kelly confirmed that Trump will also hold bilateral talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa.
Schedule and Bilateral Meetings
According to a statement from the White House, Trump will arrive in Ankara on Tuesday afternoon, where he will be greeted by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The itinerary includes a State Arrival Ceremony, an Honor Guard review, and a bilateral meeting with Erdogan. That evening, Trump will participate in the NATO Leaders' Social Dinner. On Wednesday, he will join an official welcome and family photo, followed by a NATO Leaders' working session. In the afternoon, Trump will hold separate bilateral meetings with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine and President al-Sharaa of Syria. He will then hold a press conference before departing Ankara, arriving back at the White House on Wednesday evening.
NATO Tensions and Trump's Stance
The summit occurs amid ongoing tensions within the alliance regarding defence spending, burden-sharing, and the US role in European security. Trump has previously described NATO as a 'paper tiger' and stated that he is only attending this year's summit because of President Erdogan. This reflects rocky relations between Trump and European allies. The Washington Post reported that many NATO allies have eyed Turkey with suspicion for buying a Russian air defence system, attacking Western-backed Kurdish forces in Syria, and stalling Sweden's bid to join the alliance. However, Trump has endorsed Erdogan, calling him 'a friend of mine' and 'a hell of a leader.'
Erdogan's Perspective
Erdogan, speaking at a recent meeting of his AK Party, said, '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.' Trump told reporters last week, 'If not for the fact that it was being held in Turkey by President Erdogan, I don't think I would've gone to it,' as NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte sat next to him, according to The Washington Post.
