Trump to attend NATO summit in Ankara amid talks on Turkey F-35 sales and Ukraine

President Donald Trump landed in Ankara for the NATO summit, where he is expected to discuss a range of issues with alliance leaders. Two U.S. officials said Trump plans to offer Turkey a "gift" that could include F-35 fighter jets, despite a congressional ban enacted after Turkey bought Russia’s S-400 air-defence system. The administration is reviewing how to comply with the law while addressing Turkey’s request.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte highlighted progress on defense cooperation and noted that European countries are meeting the alliance’s spending targets. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen affirmed Denmark’s compliance with NATO goals and warned of the security threat posed by Russia’s war in Ukraine.

The summit also comes as Russian missile and drone attacks killed at least 19 people in Kyiv, prompting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to urge allies for additional air-defence missiles. Trump is slated to meet Zelensky during the meeting, following a phone conversation earlier in the week.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a six-month review of American force posture in Europe, after earlier reports of a possible one-third reduction in troops. The review follows recent tensions over the United States’ involvement in a conflict with Iran and broader questions about NATO’s value to the United States.

"Europe must arm ourselves so that we can take care of our people and our society," Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said, emphasizing national defence commitments.

The summit proceeds against a backdrop of heightened security concerns in the Middle East and Eastern Europe, with allies weighing the implications of potential arms sales and ongoing Russian aggression.