President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and U.S. President Donald Trump met Tuesday on the sidelines of the NATO summit in The Hague, emphasizing the need to strengthen NATO’s deterrence capabilities and reaffirming their nations' leadership roles within the alliance, reports Daily Sabah.
In a wide-ranging discussion, the two leaders welcomed the recently brokered cease-fire between Israel and Iran, with Erdoğan commending Trump’s diplomatic role in facilitating the truce. He expressed hope that the cease-fire would hold and underscored the importance of addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Erdoğan also reaffirmed Türkiye’s readiness to engage in active dialogue to help bring peace to Ukraine, where Russia’s full-scale invasion remains a central issue at the summit.
Both leaders agreed on the urgency of bolstering NATO’s deterrent posture amid evolving global threats, signaling a unified front within the alliance as it adapts to new security dynamics.
Erdoğan further emphasized the untapped potential for Türkiye–U.S. cooperation, particularly in the defense sector and energy, adding that enhancing these ties could help achieve their shared goal of $100 billion in annual bilateral trade.
Their meeting took place during the first day of the NATO summit, hosted by King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima, with over 45 world leaders present. The summit, which runs through June 25, centers on strategic risks facing the Euro-Atlantic region, including Ukraine’s membership bid and increased defense investment across the alliance.
Ahead of the summit, Erdoğan praised the Israel-Iran cease-fire, urging all sides to embrace diplomacy. As the summit progresses, NATO leaders are expected to solidify long-term strategies to address regional conflicts and reinforce alliance cohesion.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
