Donald Trump was greeted warmly by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan after arriving in Turkey for a high-stakes NATO summit.
The fast-paced two-day gathering is seen as crucial for the United States, the host nation and the future of the alliance, which has been tested by Trump’s war with Iran. Trump has expressed frustration over NATO allies’ early reluctance to support Operation Epic Fury.
An aqua-blue carpet was rolled out across the tarmac for the president’s arrival, as members of the Turkish military stood at attention while Trump moved in to greet Erdogan.
The two leaders have long maintained a close rapport, with Trump often praising Erdogan’s leadership style and, more recently, his backing of the U.S. campaign in Iran. Moments after landing, Trump appeared pleased to see his counterpart and greeted him with an embrace.
“Trump then threw his right hand out palm-up in a very emphatic invitation to his hearty handshake,” body language expert Judi James told the Daily Mail, describing the exchange.
“Possibly the most powerful cue, he placed his left hand up onto Erdogan’s upper shoulder and neck in a clamp gesture as he shook and talked,” James added. “Clamping like this suggests strong connections but the neck is a vulnerable area and the gesture would imply strength and power on behalf of Trump.”
The leaders then headed inside to begin the summit, at moments holding one another’s arms in a visible display of warmth.
Trump has previously noted that Erdogan has kept Turkey out of the U.S.-Iran conflict and, notably, has not opened hostilities against Israel. “Everything I’ve ever asked from him, he’s done,” Trump said during an Oval Office event in late June.
President Donald Trump walks arm-in-arm with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, left, upon arriving for the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, Tuesday, July 7, 2026
Trump and Erdogan are close and the Turkish leader appeared to be putting on an early charm offensive. The Turkish leader wants Trump to approve the sale of US-made F-35 stealth fighter jets to Turkey
Erdogan awaits Trump’s disembarkation from the new Air Force One plane gifted to Trump by Qatar
Trump is widely expected to ask NATO allies at the session to increase their spending on defense. He’s referred to the group as a ‘paper tiger’ that would cease to function without American leadership.
He has complained continuously since his first term that partners do not spend enough on defense, since the lion’s share of NATO defense money comes from US coffers.
Erdogan reportedly wants Trump to approve US military sales to Turkey, specifically US-made F-35 stealth fighter jets, one of the crown jewels of the US Air Force.
However, US law currently forbids the sale of the planes to Turkey, posing a wrinkle for both presidents. Congress barred Turkey in 2018 from obtaining the bespoke US military aircraft after it purchased Russian air defense systems during the President’s first term.
Lawmakers were concerned that Russia’s S-400 air defense system could track, detect and collect intel on the F-35’s stealth capabilities. Officials were worried that if Turkey had both systems, it would pose a major risk to the plane’s technological edge.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned how the sale could upend the Middle East.
Speaking Monday on the morning show ‘Fox & Friends,’ Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged the U.S. not to sell F-35 fighter jets to Turkey, saying that Erdogan ‘calls openly for the annihilation of Israel.’
But Trump has seemingly warmed to the proposal of selling Turkey the F-35s despite the concerns from Bibi.
President Donald Trump shakes hands with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan upon arriving for the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, Tuesday, July 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Trump has signaled that he wants to make Erdogan ‘very happy,’ a nod to approving the F-35 sales to Turkey
Erdogan reportedly is seeking to get approval from the US to buy US-made F-35 fighter jets
‘I’m going to probably do something that’s going to make him very happy,’ Trump recently said of Erdogan at an Oval Office event when asked about providing the jets to Turkey on the trip. ‘Look, he’s a member of NATO … some people don’t consider him, but he really is.’
‘He was a prime candidate to go into the war with Iran — maybe on the Iran side, because he’s not a big fan of Israel,’ Trump said of Erdogan at the late June event in the Oval Office. ‘I asked him to stay out. He stayed out.’
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte told reporters this week that ‘we will announce tens of billions in new contracts that will provide the crucial kit we need to deter and defend.’
But Trump does not just want NATO to increase its spending.
‘We don´t need their money – we don´t need anything,’ Trump said recently. ‘I just want loyalty.’
The summit is being held in Erdogan´s sprawling palace compound in Ankara, and Trump has suggested he would come bearing gifts for the Turkish leader.
