One of the biggest uncertainties before the NATO summit was whether U.S. President Donald Trump would attend NATO's Ankara summit. Following an invitation and phone call from President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, it was announced that he would attend, and he did so.
At the press conference, he once again said, "If it weren't for Erdoğan, I wouldn't have come to this summit." He repeated, at an even higher register, what he had said about President Erdoğan both in bilateral meetings and in his absence. He reiterated phrases like "We're very good friends," "We have great chemistry," and "We have a wonderful relationship."
Looking at the two leaders' conduct and statements at the welcoming ceremony and press conference, it's easy to see, in terms of diplomatic language, that Trump has personal respect and trust for Erdoğan. Recall that his "behavior" toward the royal family during his visit to the United Kingdom was discussed for days. Yesterday, during the military ceremony, Erdoğan personally demonstrated to Trump what he needed to do.
One of the most critical outcomes of the visit was the lifting of sanctions and restrictions, and Trump leaving the door open on F-35 sales. Erdoğan reminded Trump that he had previously given his word on the F-35 issue, emphasizing, "Mr. Trump always keeps his word." This phrase naturally carries a "personal message."
