Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan says Trump’s NATO summit attendance hinges on Erdoğan’s invitation

Turkey’s foreign minister Hakan Fidan told CNN‑Türk that U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed he would attend the NATO summit in Istanbul only because President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan invited him. Fidan added that Trump also said he would have gone for Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, but not for many other leaders. He emphasized that the United States‑Turkey relationship is improving, noting the removal of most CAATSA sanctions and the possible revival of the F‑35 purchase. Fidan framed these remarks as evidence of a shift in the security system that had previously been dominated by the United States, and highlighted Turkey’s aim to increase defence spending and its broader strategic goals in the region.