On the sidelines of the NATO Summit in The Hague, U.S. President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan held a bilateral meeting Tuesday evening. Their talks focused on bolstering NATO defence, the Israel‑Iran ceasefire, the Gaza conflict, and the war in Ukraine.
Erdoğan commended Trump for facilitating the fragile ceasefire between Iran and Israel, expressing hope for its permanence, and called for intensified efforts to resolve the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. He emphasized Turkey’s intention to collaborate closely with the U.S. on Gaza, while also promoting dialogue to end the war in Ukraine.
On defence and economic cooperation, Erdoğan highlighted the growing potential between Turkey and the U.S. in energy, investment, and military sectors, stating that stronger defence‑industry ties could help both nations reach a $100 billion trade target.
The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening NATO’s deterrence posture. The reaffirmation comes amid NATO’s broader decision to increase defence spending, partly in response to Trump’s call for members to meet the 5% GDP benchmark.
