Trump to attend NATO summit in Ankara: Turkish FM

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan confirmed on Tuesday that US President Donald Trump intends to attend the NATO summit in Ankara this July, stating that the two leaders have held multiple phone conversations in recent weeks to solidify arrangements for the high-level gathering. Speaking to Bloomberg TV during a visit to Singapore, Fidan said Trump indicated on each occasion that he would participate in the July 7-8 meeting. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke with the US president several times by telephone last month to coordinate the visit, according to the minister.

Alliance commitment

Fidan stressed that Washington remains committed to the alliance despite recent political rhetoric, noting there are no indications the US intends to act on previous warnings that it could withdraw from NATO. "The US is constantly pressing allies to increase defense spending and take greater responsibility for their own security," he stated, pointing out that European members have received the message and already taken concrete steps to boost their defense budgets within the alliance framework. "When leaders come together, we will review the progress achieved," he added.

Regional security concerns

The minister also addressed ongoing tensions in the Middle East, underscoring Ankara's support for negotiations between Washington and Tehran aimed at extending the ceasefire that took effect on April 8 through Pakistani mediation. Fidan said both the American and Iranian sides are making "sincere" efforts to prolong the truce, though he warned that Israeli attacks targeting Hezbollah in southern Lebanon pose "a significant risk" that could undermine the diplomatic process and destabilize the region further. "I am sure the Americans and the Iranians are sincere. They want a ceasefire and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, but I am not sure about Israel's intentions," Fidan told the broadcaster.

Tensions have remained high since the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran in February, prompting Tehran to retaliate against Israeli and Gulf targets while blocking the strategic Strait of Hormuz — a vital chokepoint for global energy shipments. Subsequent talks in Islamabad failed to produce a lasting agreement, though the two sides have continued exchanging proposals and counterproposals in an effort to resume direct negotiations and end the conflict.