Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump could help ease differences within NATO as alliance leaders gather in Ankara this week for a summit focused on security, defense spending and transatlantic cooperation.
In an interview with The New York Times ahead of the July 7-8 NATO summit, Fidan said Türkiye hopes to use the close ties between Erdoğan and Trump to promote unity within the alliance.
"The relationship between President Erdoğan and President Trump can help reduce tensions within NATO," Fidan noted, describing the relationship as one based on mutual trust and friendship.
He said Türkiye intends to use that relationship "for a greater good and for the benefit of the entire NATO family."
Addressing Trump's past criticism of NATO, Fidan said he expected technical discussions at the Ankara summit to proceed smoothly despite political disagreements.
