President Donald Trump arrived in Turkey's capital, Ankara, on Tuesday to attend the NATO summit. He was welcomed on the tarmac by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and greeted Turkish soldiers present for his arrival. U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matt Whitaker and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Gen. Dan Caine were also present, according to the White House press pool.

Ahead of the summit, NATO unveiled billions of dollars in military projects, which Secretary General Mark Rutte described as “money well spent.”

At the summit, Trump reiterated his demand that NATO member countries increase their defense spending to 5% of their gross domestic product. He noted that while Poland, the Nordic countries, and the Baltic states lead the way, and Germany is on track to reach 5% by 2029, many others lag behind. Trump expects all allies to immediately step up to meet or exceed this target.

The Pentagon has announced plans to withdraw about 5,000 U.S. troops from Germany, alongside reductions in fighter jets, tanks, and other equipment. A senior U.S. official stated that acquiring Greenland remains the best way to meet NATO's defense needs in that region, though other mechanisms are being explored.

Trump's arrival comes amid ongoing tensions within the alliance, including disagreements over defense spending, U.S. asset withdrawals from Europe, and disputes involving Iran and Greenland. The president has at times questioned NATO's usefulness and viability, keeping member countries on edge.

During the summit, Trump is scheduled to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, less than three weeks after their meeting at the G7 summit in France. After their meeting, Trump said Russia “should make a deal” to end the war. He will also meet with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and hold a press conference before returning to Washington on Wednesday.

Turkey, a NATO member since 1952, remains a complex and sometimes controversial partner due to its economic ties with Russia and human rights concerns.

This summit is considered by some officials as "probably the most important meeting in NATO's history," reflecting the critical juncture at which the alliance finds itself.

Sources