Trump Heads to Türkiye for Key NATO Summit in Ankara
Trump Heads to Türkiye to Push NATO Allies on Defense Spending
United States President Donald Trump is set to travel to Türkiye this week for the NATO Summit in Ankara, where one of his primary goals will be ensuring that alliance members follow through on their commitments to increase defense spending.
The summit, scheduled for July 7–8, is expected to focus on strengthening NATO's military capabilities, continued support for Ukraine and long-term security planning.
The meeting in Ankara will bring together heads of state and government from all NATO member countries.
Defense Spending Remains Trump's Top Priority
According to United States officials, President Trump expects all NATO members to move quickly toward the alliance's target of spending 5 percent of gross domestic product on defense over the next decade.
"President Trump fully expects that all allies will move immediately toward the 5 percent target with urgency," United States Ambassador to NATO Matt Whitaker said ahead of the summit.
The increased defense spending commitment was agreed upon during last year's NATO summit, and this year's gathering is expected to assess how much progress member states have made.
Ukraine and European Security High on the Agenda
Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine is expected to remain one of the summit's central topics.
President Trump is also expected to hold a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during the event, while discussions among alliance leaders will focus on continued military assistance, future defense planning and adapting NATO's force structure.
Alliance members are also expected to discuss how European countries can assume greater responsibility for their own defense while maintaining close cooperation with the United States.
Trump to Meet Erdoğan in Ankara
During the summit, President Trump is expected to hold a bilateral meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who is hosting the event.
The two leaders are expected to discuss regional security, NATO cooperation and broader geopolitical developments.
The White House has also announced plans for President Trump to meet Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa on the sidelines of the summit.
NATO's Future Under Discussion
The summit comes as the United States promotes what officials describe as a new vision for the alliance, with European members taking on a larger share of defense responsibilities while the United States increasingly focuses on global strategic priorities.
Although European allies have significantly increased defense budgets in recent years, many still rely heavily on United States military capabilities, including air defense, intelligence, satellite surveillance and strategic logistics.
The Ankara Summit is expected to shape NATO's strategic direction for the coming years as member states seek to strengthen collective security amid evolving global challenges.
