US President Donald Trump was ceremoniously welcomed in Ankara on Tuesday as Turkey hosted a pivotal NATO summit. The gathering of alliance leaders will focus on critical issues including defence spending, Europe’s security challenges, the ongoing war in Ukraine, tensions with Iran, and the future direction of the transatlantic alliance.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan personally greeted Trump on the tarmac at Etimesgut Air Base, underscoring the close rapport between the two leaders. This gesture highlights Turkey’s efforts to bolster its strategic position within NATO amid complex geopolitical dynamics.
A ceremonial guard of honour received the US president on a turquoise-blue carpet, a traditional Turkish symbol, before Trump proceeded to talks with Erdoğan. These discussions preceded the leaders’ dinner that officially opened the summit.
Also present to welcome Trump were US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Presidential Envoy for Syria and Iraq Tom Barrack, US Ambassador to NATO Matt Whitaker, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine.
This NATO summit is one of the most consequential in recent years, bringing together representatives from all 32 member states amid escalating geopolitical tensions ranging from Russia’s war in Ukraine to instability in the Middle East.
Turkey is using this opportunity to emphasize its strategic importance within the alliance despite previous disagreements with Western partners over defence procurement, regional security policies, and democratic issues. As NATO’s second-largest military power after the United States, Turkey holds a vital geopolitical position connecting Europe, the Middle East, and the Black Sea region.
A key point of interest is whether Trump will endorse Turkey’s return to the F-35 stealth fighter programme. After Turkey’s 2019 purchase of the Russian S-400 missile defence system, Washington removed Ankara from the programme and imposed sanctions under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). A positive development here would mark a significant reset in US-Turkey defence relations.
The summit agenda is expected to be dominated by NATO’s push to substantially enhance Europe’s military capabilities. Last year, member states agreed to raise defence and security spending to five percent of GDP by 2035, more than doubling the previous 2014 target of two percent. This increase reflects heightened concerns over Russia following its invasion of Ukraine, as well as broader threats from terrorism and global instability.
However, several European countries continue to struggle with meeting even the existing spending targets, setting the stage for challenging discussions as Trump renews pressure on allies to increase their contributions. He has repeatedly criticized European members for relying too heavily on US military protection and warned that the United States should not bear a disproportionate share of NATO’s defence costs.
In a significant development ahead of the leaders’ meeting, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced a series of defence initiatives valued at tens of billions of dollars during a defence industry forum in Ankara. Calling for a defence industry “revolution,” Rutte urged member states and manufacturers to rapidly expand production to meet escalating security demands.
Among the key announcements, European countries agreed to purchase surveillance drones from US defence contractor Northrop Grumman, while NATO signed agreements to acquire aircraft from Sweden’s Saab. Additionally, US defence giant Lockheed Martin and Germany’s Rheinmetall signed a draft deal to jointly produce ATACMS short-range ballistic missiles in Germany, marking the first such manufacturing outside the United States.
Rutte also revealed that NATO allies plan to invest over $40 billion in the next five years to bolster anti-drone capabilities. These initiatives aim to demonstrate European allies’ commitment to responding to Washington’s long-standing calls for greater military investment and reducing dependence on US defence production.
Another critical topic is the future of the US military presence in Europe. Trump has previously threatened to reduce American troop deployments across the continent, and the Pentagon has already canceled planned deployments while reviewing the US military footprint in Europe. European leaders are expected to seek clarity from Trump on future commitments, emphasizing the importance of the American military presence for NATO’s collective deterrence against Russia.
The summit will also reaffirm support for Ukraine, with members preparing to pledge approximately €70 billion in military aid for 2026 amid intensified Russian missile and drone attacks. European governments are grappling with compensating for reduced US military assistance while Ukraine faces shortages of advanced air-defence systems.
Meanwhile, divisions concerning the conflict involving Iran are anticipated to surface. Trump has criticized several NATO allies for not becoming more involved alongside the United States and Israel, publicly rebuking leaders including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. These disagreements highlight broader strains within the alliance over Middle East policy, adding to existing disputes over defence spending and burden-sharing.
Despite ongoing differences, NATO leaders are expected to conclude the Ankara summit by presenting a united front, reaffirming collective defence commitments and announcing new investments to strengthen the alliance’s military readiness.
For Turkey, the summit is an opportunity to showcase its central role in European security and potentially secure renewed defence cooperation with Washington. For Trump, it offers a platform to push European allies toward increased military spending while reshaping America’s role within an alliance he has frequently criticized.
