The US president is due to hold talks with his 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's affinity for strongmen leaders made him an admirer of Erdogan, who amassed power in Turkey as its prime minister and in his 13th year as president.

When he steps off the plane in Ankara for this week's NATO summit, it will be the president's first trip to Turkey since he regained the White House.

Defence spending, Ukraine and the Iran conflict will dominate the Ankara meeting

Trump attends NATO Summit in Turkey to meet Zelenskyy amid strained relations over European defense spending and the Iran war.

The US president has praised both leaders for their strength and charm