US President Trump heads to Turkey for NATO Summit
Washington DC, July 7
US President Donald Trump on Monday departed Joint Base Andrews and boarded Air Force One to attend the NATO Summit in Ankara, Turkey.
The high-profile gathering, 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 stated that Trump will also hold talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa on the sidelines of the Summit.
"President Trump will depart the White House on Monday evening. He will arrive in Ankara on Tuesday afternoon, where he be greeted by President Erdogan of Turkey. He will participate in a State Arrival Ceremony and Honor Guard review before moving into a bilateral meeting with President Erdogan," the statement read.
"That evening, the President will participate in a NATO Leaders' Social Dinner. On Wednesday, President Trump will participate in an official welcome and family photo, followed by a NATO Leaders' working session. That afternoon, President Trump will participate in bilateral meetings with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine and President al-Sharaa of the Syrian Arab Republic. Finally, the President will hold a press conference before departing from Ankara. He will arrive back at the White House on Wednesday evening," the statement said.
For years, many other NATO allies 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, the Washington Post reported.
But now, as Trump has flipped the perspective by calling NATO as 'paper tiger' and saying he's only attending this year's summit for Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President of the Republic of Turkiye. It is the latest sign of rocky relations between Trump and his European 'allies'.
"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," Erdogan told a recent meeting of his AK Party, Washington Post quoted.
Trump has endorsed Erdogan in recent weeks, calling him "a friend of mine" and a "hell of a leader."
"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," Trump told reporters at the White House last week, as NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte sat next to him, as per The Washington Post.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Interesting that Trump is going to Turkey only because of Erdogan. Means he's betting big on Turkey as a regional power broker. But Erdogan has his own agenda - buying Russian S-400 systems, playing both sides. From India's perspective, this NATO drama is a side show. Our focus should be on QUAD, Indo-Pacific, and self-reliance. Western alliances are becoming too transactional.
Trump calling NATO 'paper tiger' while attending summit only for Erdogan shows how personal diplomacy overrules institutional commitments. But honestly, NATO has been militarily irrelevant since USSR dissolved. It's just a talking club now. Turkey playing Russia against West is smart geopolitics. India can learn: don't put all eggs in one basket. 🇮🇳
Respect to Trump for at least showing up. But this summit seems more about Trump-Erdogan bromance than any serious NATO business. Ukraine war, Syria situation, Sweden's NATO membership - all sidelined while two strongmen exchange compliments. From India's lens, this chaos in Western alliances creates opportunities but also uncertainty. We need to strengthen our own defense ecosystem. 🇮🇳
Honestly, the way Trump talks about NATO and allies - it's like he's running a reality show, not diplomacy. Calling NATO 'paper tiger' while going to Turkey only for Erdogan is peak pettiness. But hey, at least he's consistent in his disruptiveness. India should watch and learn: alliances are just temporary convenience. Build your nation first.
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