Turkish FM: Key NATO Summit Decisions Require Trump's Participation

Ankara (ANTARA) - Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has stated that important decisions at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit in Ankara cannot be taken without the presence of US President Donald Trump. “The agenda to be discussed is very important, and decisions on these issues cannot be made in a meeting without the participation of the US president,” Fidan said in an interview with a Turkish daily published on Thursday. Fidan said preparations for the NATO summit, which will take place in Ankara on 7-8 July 2026, are continuing intensively. One of the main topics to be discussed is the differing approaches between the United States and its European allies on a number of issues within the alliance. “Many European countries have stated that holding the meeting in Turkey under the leadership of our esteemed president is a major factor enabling President Trump to participate in this summit,” he said. Fidan added that the NATO summit opens significant diplomatic opportunities for Turkey amid discussions on the security and future of the alliance. The high-level meeting will be attended by heads of state and government from the 32 NATO member countries as well as partner nations. Turkish authorities are still open to the possibility of Trump attending the summit.