DID Press: US President Donald Trump arrived in Ankara on Tuesday to attend the NATO Summit, where alliance leaders are expected to focus on defense spending, military capabilities and transatlantic security challenges.
Trump was welcomed at the airport by Recep Tayyip Erdoğan before the two leaders began bilateral talks. They are also scheduled to hold a wider meeting with senior officials from both countries, with defense industry cooperation expected to top the agenda.
The US president will attend the NATO leaders’ dinner and is also due to meet senior American officials on the sidelines of the summit, including the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the US Ambassador to NATO and the US Ambassador to Türkiye.
As the summit opens, NATO members are unveiling new defense procurement agreements and plans to increase military investment. Mark Rutte said European allies and Canada have significantly increased defense spending in 2025, adding that the alliance aims to reach an annual production capacity of around four million artillery shells by next year.
Differences between Washington and its European allies over the Iran conflict and the future of the US military presence in Europe are expected to feature prominently in the discussions. Trump has repeatedly criticized European allies for relying too heavily on the United States for security, while European leaders maintain they remain committed to NATO obligations.
The NATO leaders’ summit opens Tuesday evening in Ankara and continues through Wednesday.