Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (C, bottom) welcomes US President Donald Trump (up) upon his arrival on Air Force One at Etimesgut Air Base near Ankara, on July 7, 2026, as he travels to attend the 36th NATO Heads of State and Government Summit. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP)
US President Donald Trump landed in Ankara on Tuesday for a NATO summit where leaders are hoping to woo him with promises on defence spending, an AFP correspondent said.
The US leader is due to hold talks with Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan at his sprawling presidential palace before joining an official leaders dinner ahead of the main session of the summit on Wednesday.
Trump landed at 1:51 pm (1051 GMT) after making his first foreign flight aboard his new Qatari-gifted Air Force One plane where he was greeted on the tarmac by Erdogan and a presidential guard, some dressed in blue, others in red.
On his first official visit to Ankara, Trump was then to be taken to Erdogan’s presidential palace where guardsmen dressed in historical warrior costumes were awaiting him on the steps outside, an AFP correspondent said.
