Trump Arrives in Ankara for NATO Summit as Alliance Highlights Major Defense Deals

US President Donald Trump arrived in Ankara on Tuesday to attend the NATO summit, as the military alliance unveiled billions of dollars in defense projects aimed at strengthening cooperation among member states. The gathering comes as NATO seeks to address security challenges while maintaining support from the United States.

Trump was scheduled to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the presidential compound shortly after his arrival. Erdogan, a close ally of Trump, is hosting this year’s summit, where leaders are expected to discuss defense spending, military readiness, and the future direction of the alliance.

Ahead of Trump’s arrival, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte highlighted major arms and defense investments, describing them as “money well spent.” While NATO itself does not own weapons, its 32 member countries control military assets, including the alliance’s fleet of AWACS surveillance aircraft and newer reconnaissance systems used for collective security operations.