U.S. President Donald Trump arrived in Ankara on Tuesday for a pivotal two-day NATO summit expected to be dominated by disagreements over defence spending and growing tensions surrounding the conflict with Iran.
The American leader touched down at Ankara’s Etimesgut Air Base aboard Air Force One, according to live footage broadcast online. Upon arrival, Trump was warmly received by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, setting the stage for what analysts see as one of the alliance’s most consequential meetings in recent years.
In a display of cordial relations, Erdoğan welcomed Trump at the foot of the aircraft stairs before accompanying him along a blue carpet prepared for the occasion. The two leaders, who have maintained a notably friendly rapport despite periodic tensions between their countries, were seen conversing as they walked together, with Erdoğan briefly placing a hand on Trump’s arm.
A light-hearted moment followed when Trump greeted a group of Turkish soldiers in their native language, drawing applause and smiles from the Turkish president and officials present at the ceremony. The leaders then proceeded into the airport terminal ahead of a packed schedule of diplomatic engagements.
The summit opens against a backdrop of mounting strains within the NATO alliance. For years, Trump has pressed European member states to significantly increase their defence budgets, arguing that the United States has carried a disproportionate share of the burden for the continent’s security.
Those long-standing disagreements are expected to resurface during the gathering, with several European allies facing renewed pressure from Washington to boost military spending and strengthen their own defence capabilities.
Adding to the tension is the escalating conflict involving Iran. Trump has expressed frustration over criticism from some NATO partners regarding his administration’s military campaign against Tehran. He has also accused certain allies of failing to adequately support the operation conducted in coordination with Israel.
With security concerns, defence commitments and Middle East instability all competing for attention, the Ankara summit is expected to test NATO’s unity at a time when the alliance faces some of its most complex geopolitical challenges in recent years.
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