Trump and Erdoğan speak from Ankara as NATO summit opens

President Donald J. Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will deliver remarks from Ankara on Tuesday, ahead of the highly anticipated NATO summit scheduled for later this week. The U.S. president’s appearance comes after his administration signaled a possible withdrawal from the alliance, a move that has intensified scrutiny of U.S. commitments to collective defense.

Trump’s remarks are expected to outline the administration’s rationale for reconsidering U.S. participation, while also addressing concerns raised by members of his own party and by Israel. The GOP has expressed growing unease over the potential impact on U.S. influence in Europe, and Israeli officials have warned that a U.S. exit could weaken the security framework that underpins the region’s stability.

Erdoğan’s speech will likely focus on Turkey’s role within NATO and its strategic interests in the Middle East and the Black Sea. Together, the leaders’ statements will set the tone for the summit, where member states will debate the future of the alliance and the United States’ place within it.