Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has indicated that he is likely to meet privately with US President Donald Trump during next month’s NATO summit in Ankara, highlighting the importance of close coordination among alliance members.
Turkey is set to welcome leaders from the 32-member military alliance on July 7 and 8, alongside representatives from partner nations across the Gulf region and the Asia Pacific.
The summit comes at a time when NATO faces internal debates over defence spending commitments, burden-sharing responsibilities, and security challenges linked to recent tensions involving Iran.
Speaking to reporters at the Turkish parliament on Wednesday, Erdogan suggested that a bilateral meeting with Trump was expected to take place during the gathering, though he did not provide additional details regarding the agenda or timing.
Ankara has repeatedly stressed the significance of Trump’s participation in the summit, with Erdogan previously describing his attendance as an important demonstration of alliance cohesion during a period of geopolitical uncertainty.
Relations between the two leaders have strengthened since Trump’s return to the White House in 2024, with both countries expanding cooperation on several regional matters while also making progress in addressing longstanding areas of disagreement.
Ahead of the summit, Erdogan’s communications director, Burhanettin Duran, said discussions on defence contributions would feature prominently among leaders. He noted that changing global security dynamics are prompting NATO members to reassess military spending commitments.
According to Duran, Turkey intends to meet NATO’s proposed defence investment benchmark of 3.5% of gross domestic product, alongside an additional 1.5% allocation for related security needs, by the end of the decade.
The summit will also include participation from members of the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative, which brings together NATO and several Middle Eastern partners. Foreign ministers from Japan, Australia, New Zealand and South Korea collectively known as the Indo-Pacific Four are also expected to attend.
Goodness Anunobi
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