US President Donald Trump will arrive in Ankara at around 2 p.m. on July 7. Although more than a thousand people will accompany him, his wife Melania will be absent, Turkey in Depth has learned.
Erdoğan is expected to greet Trump at the airport. The two leaders will then hold a one-on-one meeting at the Presidential Complex before delegation-level talks, and are set to hold a joint news conference. Trump is expected to announce approval for the sale of engines for Turkey's KAAN fighter jet during the visit.
The US president is expected to depart Ankara at around 4 p.m. on July 8, after the leaders' summit.
A 1,000-STRONG DELEGATION
Planes from the US will land in Ankara one after another on July 7, as Trump travels with a delegation of roughly 1,000 people. Since the hotel reserved for Trump could not accommodate the delegation, additional hotel rooms were rented in Ankara.
'As with every country he visits, the US president will bring his own vehicles and helicopter. The presidential helicopter will be loaded onto the aircraft disassembled and reassembled in Ankara by American technical teams,' wrote Hande Fırat of Hürriyet.
https://www.hurriyet.com.tr/yazarlar/hande-firat/adan-zye-ankarada-nato-zirvesi-2-43225786
The two leaders are expected to focus on the defense industry and security in their bilateral meeting. Engine procurement for the KAAN fighter jet, the F-35 program, CAATSA sanctions and new defense projects will be discussed. Turkey's security expectations in Syria, the steps Ankara expects from Washington on the PKK/YPG and the US military presence in the region rank among the most critical agenda items.
The ceasefire process in Gaza, the Israel-Iran tension, the Russia-Ukraine war, Black Sea security and cooperation within the NATO framework are also among the files before the leaders.
THE SUMMIT DECLARATION
Citing a NATO source, Reuters reported that NATO would announce at the Ankara Summit that its European members have filled almost all the gaps left by the US in the alliance's defense plans. Diplomatic sources contacted by Turkey in Depth, however, did not confirm this.
Fırat also added that the NATO Summit declaration is expected to highlight commitment to Article 5, a ranking of threats to NATO countries led by terrorism and Russia, confirmation that Europe will shoulder more of the defense burden — with each member allocating 5 percent of GDP to defense and security-related areas by 2035 — a memorandum on a defense industry ecosystem combining capacity in direct defense and broader security areas, and support funds for Ukraine and their management.
Member states are permitted to enter the Presidential Complex with a maximum of 20 people (3+17) accompanying the president/prime minister and two ministers.
On the evening of July 7, three high-level gatherings will take place simultaneously: a working dinner of foreign ministers in the NATO-Ukraine Council format; a working dinner bringing defense ministers together with representatives of the Asia-Pacific Four — Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand; and a leaders' reception hosted by Erdoğan and first lady Emine Erdoğan. Ukraine's president, the heads of EU institutions and the leaders of Asia-Pacific partners are also invited to the reception called NATO Social.
