US President Donald Trump arrived in Ankara on Tuesday to attend the NATO summit, where alliance leaders are expected to persuade him by highlighting increased commitments to defence spending.
During his visit, Trump is scheduled to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the expansive presidential complex before attending an official dinner with fellow leaders ahead of the summit’s main session on Wednesday.
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The American president touched down at 1:51 p.m. local time (1051 GMT) after making his first international trip aboard the new Air Force One aircraft gifted by Qatar. He was welcomed on the runway by members of the presidential guard dressed in blue ceremonial uniforms.
Making his first official visit to Ankara, Trump was then escorted to Erdogan’s presidential palace, where guards wearing traditional warrior-inspired attire stood in formation to receive him.
The presidential complex features towering atriums, lavish halls, and interiors adorned with marble, onyx, and intricate geometric designs.
The luxurious surroundings were unlikely to escape Trump’s attention. One chamber displays an impressionist-style portrait of Erdogan, while another houses a crystal panther inside an ornate display cabinet.
Before Trump’s arrival, NATO allies sought to demonstrate their growing defence commitments by announcing multi-billion-dollar arms agreements, aiming to ease the US president’s frustration over Europe’s handling of the conflict involving Iran.
The two-day summit takes place one year after NATO members agreed to increase defence and security spending to five percent of their gross domestic product, following strong pressure from the United States.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has maintained that European allies are fulfilling their commitments by significantly raising military expenditure and assuming greater responsibility for the continent’s defence in response to the threat posed by Russia.
AFP
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