Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan enters next week’s NATO summit in Ankara with a unique advantage among alliance leaders: a close personal relationship with US President Donald Trump that could deliver both diplomatic and strategic gains for Turkey.
According to reports, Trump agreed to attend the July 7-8 NATO summit in Ankara largely at Erdogan’s personal request, underscoring the importance of the relationship between the two leaders.
“I would not have gone for most people,” Trump said recently. “But he called me up. He said: ‘Please, I have it in Turkey. You got to be there. The United States has to be in there.'”
Trump’s decision to attend represents a major diplomatic success for Erdogan at a time when the US president has repeatedly criticized NATO allies over defense spending and questioned America’s long-term role within the alliance.
Analysts say Erdogan has successfully leveraged his personal rapport with Trump, who has frequently praised the Turkish leader and described him as “a hell of a leader.” The relationship contrasts sharply with the often strained ties between Ankara and former US President Joe Biden, whose administration criticized Turkey over democratic backsliding and its close relations with Russia.
The summit could also produce concrete benefits for Ankara’s defense ambitions. Trump has suggested that he may announce steps related to the sale of F-35 fighter jets and F-110 jet engines sought by Turkey.
Turkey was removed from the F-35 program in 2019 after purchasing the Russian-made S-400 missile defense system, a move that triggered US sanctions and years of tension between the two NATO allies. However, recent statements from the Trump administration indicate a possible thaw in bilateral relations.
Vice President JD Vance recently confirmed that Washington is exploring mechanisms that could eventually allow Turkey to acquire the advanced fighter aircraft, provided legal and security concerns are addressed.
Meanwhile, the US State Department has reportedly taken steps to facilitate the sale of F-110 jet engines, which Ankara plans to use in its domestically produced KAAN fighter aircraft program.
Observers note that Erdogan’s strategy of maintaining close personal ties with Trump has paid off politically and diplomatically, allowing Ankara to strengthen its position both within NATO and in its broader relationship with Washington.
As NATO leaders gather in Ankara amid ongoing wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, Erdogan appears determined to transform his personal relationship with Trump into a strategic advantage for Turkey and a renewed role for Ankara within the Western alliance.