Key facts
- US President Donald Trump is set to attend the NATO summit in Ankara on July 7-8.
- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan views Trump's attendance as a significant step for NATO's stability.
- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed Trump's participation.
- Rubio expressed concerns about some NATO members denying the use of their bases for US operations.
U.S. President Donald Trump's participation in the upcoming NATO summit in Ankara next month is considered a significant development for the military alliance's stability, according to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Erdogan told lawmakers that Trump's in-person attendance is an important step for the alliance. Last week, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed Trump's presence at the July 7-8 summit, which will bring together leaders from the 32 member states. Rubio described the meeting as potentially the most important in NATO's history, highlighting lingering concerns about Washington's commitment to the transatlantic alliance.
Rubio also voiced frustration over certain NATO members, specifically mentioning Spain's refusal to allow U.S. forces to use its bases for strikes on Iran, questioning the alliance's cohesion. Turkey is intensifying its preparations to ensure the Ankara summit becomes a landmark event in NATO's history.