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.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv was ready to halt strikes on Russian energy facilities if Moscow stops targeting Ukraine’s ...
World leaders gather in New York for the 81st UN General Assembly, with conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, global security and diplomacy set...
A former Rwandan official has appeared in a London court, becoming the first person in the UK to face charges linked to the 1994 genocide against t...
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv was ready to halt strikes on Russian energy facilities if Moscow stops targeting Ukraine’s energy sector, critical infrastructure, and food exports, as he prepared to meet U.S. President Donald Trump in New York.
Iran's military has threatened to launch sustained attacks on U.S. bases and interests across the Middle East if Washington resumes military action against Tehran.
Iran could reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days if the United States eases military pressure and lifts its blockade on Iranian ports, a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Tuesday.
Overnight Russian strikes on the city of Sumy, northeast Ukraine, have killed one woman and injured a man, the country's State Emergency Service has said.
Russian parliamentary elections have delivered a comfortable win to the ruling United Russia party, which is closely aligned to President Vladimir Putin. With more than 95 per cent of ballots counted, United Russia has taken 57.83 per cent of the vote, up from the 49.8 per cent it won in 2021.
World leaders gather in New York for the 81st UN General Assembly, with conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, global security and diplomacy set to dominate the week long high-level debate.
A former Rwandan official has appeared in a London court, becoming the first person in the UK to face charges linked to the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv was ready to halt strikes on Russian energy facilities if Moscow stops targeting Ukraine’s energy sector, critical infrastructure, and food exports, as he prepared to meet U.S. President Donald Trump in New York.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has called for the abolition of veto powers and permanent membership on the United Nations Security Council, proposing a system in which all members would instead be elected for fixed terms.
Survivors of a Nigerian detention centre where 37 people died say guards sprayed an unidentified substance into an overcrowded cell and kept the doors locked while detainees struggled to breathe and cried for help.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment