Participation of US President Donald Trump in the NATO summit in Ankara in July would be an important step toward strengthening alliance unity, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated.
“We attach great importance to the NATO leaders’ summit to be held in Ankara on July 7–8. The recent announcement that US President Donald Trump will personally attend the summit is a valuable step in terms of alliance cohesion,” the president emphasised.
He added that interest in the Ankara summit is high not only among allies but also globally, noting that preparations are underway to make the gathering a “historic milestone” for NATO.
Erdoğan’s remarks come amid ongoing debates over Trump’s evolving stance toward the alliance.
President Trump has continued to criticise NATO allies for insufficient defence spending and lack of reciprocity, frequently highlighting that the US shoulders a disproportionate burden while pushing for members to increase contributions significantly, including targets up to 5% of GDP.
He has also raised questions about the scope of Article 5 mutual defence commitments, stating that US adherence "depends on your definition" and expressing scepticism about allies' reliability in supporting American priorities.
Additionally, Trump has voiced frustration over NATO's lack of support during US-related operations, such as those involving Iran, leading him to publicly question the alliance's value and even reconsider US membership at times.
By Jeyhun Aghazada
