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.
Britain has moved to target Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and another Iran-linked organisation using new state-threat powers followi...
Pakistan on Sunday expressed "deep concern" over the latest escalation in the Middle East following renewed military exchanges between the U.S. and Ir...
The United States and Iran have significantly escalated their conflict, exchanging heavy missile and drone strikes across the Gulf region. Iran claim...
Britain has moved to target Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and another Iran-linked organisation using new state-threat powers following a series of antisemitic incidents across the country.
Pakistan on Sunday expressed "deep concern" over the latest escalation in the Middle East following renewed military exchanges between the U.S. and Iran. It urged all sides to exercise restraint and honour commitments made under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
The United States and Iran have significantly escalated their conflict, exchanging heavy missile and drone strikes across the Gulf region. Iran claims it has once again closed the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global shipping route.
The UK has announced a fresh round of sanctions against individuals and organisations it says are responsible for cyber attacks and hybrid operations linked to Russian intelligence, in a move aimed at countering efforts to destabilise Europe.
The 4th Shusha Global Media Forum will bring together nearly 160 media leaders, experts and officials from 54 countries in Azerbaijan's historic city of Shusha on 13-14 July, to discuss journalism’s role in peacebuilding, restoring public trust and tackling challenges.
The U.S. has launched fresh strikes on Iran after Tehran targeted a container ship and said it had again closed the Strait of Hormuz. Iran also claimed to have expanded attacks on U.S. military facilities across the Gulf.
Typhoon Bavi, the strongest storm to hit the eastern coast of mainland China this year, brought heavy rain, strong winds, flooding and landslides after making landfall in Zhejiang province on Sunday. More than 2.8 million people were evacuated to safety ahead of the storm.
President Ilham Aliyev is holding his annual question-and-answer session with international journalists at the 4th Shusha Global Media Forum in Azerbaijan.
Qatar is mourning the death of its former ruler, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, who has passed away at the age of 74.
Britain has moved to target Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and another Iran-linked organisation using new state-threat powers following a series of antisemitic incidents across the country.
The UK has announced a fresh round of sanctions against individuals and organisations it says are responsible for cyber attacks and hybrid operations linked to Russian intelligence, in a move aimed at countering efforts to destabilise Europe.
A 93-year-old British woman has died after being injured in wildfires that swept through southeastern Spain's Almeria province, regional authorities said, bringing the confirmed death toll to 13 people.
More than 10,000 excess deaths were recorded across 27 European countries during a record-breaking heatwave in late June, with older people accounting for the vast majority of the toll, according to official mortality data.
An overnight fire at a popular bar in Bangkok has killed at least 27 people and injured 63 others, making it one of the deadliest pub disasters in the Thai capital in recent years. Authorities say the venue quickly filled with thick smoke, trapping patrons inside.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment