President Donald Trump confirmed on June 24 that his attendance at this week’s NATO summit in Ankara is driven by his personal relationship with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The meeting signals a potential thaw in U.S.-Turkey relations, even as the administration faces broader friction with European allies over security and regional policy.
Trump’s Personal Diplomacy with President Erdoğan
President Trump’s decision to travel to Turkey for the summit is rooted in a clear personal preference. Speaking to reporters on June 24, Trump stated, “I’m going because of Erdoğan,” whom he characterized as “a friend” and “a respected leader.” This rapport is expected to be the centerpiece of their scheduled bilateral meeting during the summit, according to White House spokesperson Anna Kelly, who described the Turkish leader as an “incredible partner in the region,” as reported by Fox News.
Analysts suggest that this affinity is not merely social. James Jeffrey, who served as Trump’s special representative for Syria, noted that the relationship is built on a shared appreciation for decisive leadership. “The first reason, which is unique to Trump, is he really likes Erdoğan, and Erdoğan likes him,” Jeffrey said. “It’s the idea of a tough guy who is decisive.”
Strategic Realignment and NATO’s Hard Power Shift
Beyond the personal chemistry between the two leaders, Turkey’s geopolitical value has surged as NATO shifts its focus back to collective defense. Turkey currently maintains the second-largest military in the alliance, trailing only the United States. Its strategic geography—bordering Syria, Iraq, and Iran, and controlling the Bosporus and Dardanelles—makes it essential to maintaining the U.S. perimeter around Eurasia, according to Jeffrey.
For more on this story, see Could Trump’s Relationship with Kim Spark a New Era of Inter-Korean Diplomacy?.
This renewed focus on hard-power capability marks a transition from NATO’s long-standing counterterrorism mission to a Cold War-style default. Can Kasapoğlu, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, argues that the alliance is increasingly prioritizing military output over other considerations. “When the alliance is back to its Cold War default, the question of what you are bringing to the table is getting more important,” Kasapoğlu said. The nations bringing hard-power capability to NATO are going to get VIP treatment, as noted by Fox News.
This follows our earlier report, G7 Summit: Sanae Takaichi’s Awkward Solo Moment Goes Viral.
Broadening Rifts Within the Western Alliance
While the U.S. and Turkey seek to rebuild their ties, the broader context for Western leaders is one of deepening division. As global leaders gather in Europe, the consensus that once defined organizations like the G7 has fractured.
Charles A. Kupchan, a professor of international relations at Georgetown University, described the current environment as a “double whammy” for allies who once favored a policy of “biting their tongue.” Kupchan noted that while previous summits—such as the 2003 gathering in Évian-les-Bains—survived disagreements over the Iraq War, the current tensions are more systemic. There isn’t a consensus within the G7 about what to do, Kupchan told the Inquirer.
The Challenge of Maintaining Unity
For host nations, the goal is often reduced to preventing a total collapse of diplomatic decorum. Jeremy Shapiro, a director at the European Council on Foreign Relations, characterized the approach to summits involving the U.S. president as an attempt to “suggest that everything is OK, which none of them believe anymore.” French President Emmanuel Macron has attempted to mitigate potential friction by extending personal invitations, including a dinner at Versailles to commemorate the 250th anniversary of American independence.
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The contrast between the U.S. approach to Turkey and its approach to traditional European allies remains stark. While Washington moved to sanction Turkey in 2020 and expelled it from the F-35 program following the 2019 purchase of Russian S-400 air defense systems, the current administration is now actively signaling a move toward closer defense cooperation. Whether this pivot to Ankara will alienate other NATO members further remains a point of contention as the summit gets underway.
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