Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said that U.S. President Donald Trump’s planned attendance at an upcoming NATO summit in Ankara will help strengthen alliance unity.
Speaking to lawmakers from his ruling AK Party on Wednesday, Erdoğan said Türkiye had stepped up preparations for the summit, scheduled for 7–8 July, with the aim of making it a defining moment for the alliance.
“The announcement that Mr. Trump will attend the Ankara summit is a valuable step in terms of the alliance’s cohesion,” he said.
“We have intensified our preparations to ensure that the Ankara summit becomes a reference point in NATO’s history,” he added.
The summit is expected to bring together the leaders of NATO’s 32 member states at a time of heightened concern over the war in Ukraine, defence spending commitments, military readiness and security challenges facing Europe and the Middle East.
According to Erdoğan, the landmark gathering is certain to attract global attention.
He also described 2026 as a year in which Türkiye’s international profile would reach new heights.
The Turkish leader stressed Ankara’s continued support for diplomacy, regional stability and Palestinian rights, while sharply criticising Israel’s recent military actions in the region.
Hours after Erdoğan made the remarks, Trump hailed his close relationship with his Turkish counterpart.
“He is a very good friend of mine, and we have worked together very well,” Trump told reporters at the White House. “He is a great leader and a very strong person.”
Asked whether recent friction between Türkiye and Israel could lead to conflict, the U.S. president said he would intervene personally to prevent such a scenario.
“I would call him [Erdogan] and make sure everything was fine,” Trump said, adding: “He respects me, and I respect him.”
The exchange underscored the importance of personal diplomacy between the two leaders ahead of the summit, which Ankara hopes will reinforce alliance unity amid mounting geopolitical uncertainty.
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