Erdogan seeks to meet with Trump during the World Cup to discuss NATO - Bloomberg
Kyiv • UNN
The Turkish leader plans talks with Trump during a football match in Los Angeles. Discussions will focus on the countries' roles in the Alliance and defense.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is attempting to organize a meeting with President Donald Trump around the time of the World Cup football match between Turkey and the USA in Los Angeles next month. This was reported by Bloomberg, citing people familiar with the situation, according to UNN.
Details
Their potential meeting could take place less than two weeks before Turkey is scheduled to host a NATO summit in Ankara, amid growing signs that Washington plans to reduce its role in supporting the military alliance in Europe.
Erdoğan plans to attend the Group D match at SoFi Stadium on June 25, according to the same sources, who requested anonymity because the discussions are private.
A meeting with Trump could allow the leaders to discuss bilateral and regional relations, as well as their countries' roles in the future of the North Atlantic Alliance ahead of the July 7–8 summit, they noted. The location and time have not yet been determined. The two leaders last met at the White House in September.
Erdoğan's office declined to comment. The White House also did not respond to a request for comment.
Turkey, which has the second-largest army in NATO after the US, seeks to play a greater deterrence role on the alliance's southeastern flank, while simultaneously seeking closer cooperation with allies in defense industry development and providing critical logistical support, the sources noted.
The country has proposed building a $1.2 billion (€1 billion) pipeline for military use to help secure the energy needs of allies on NATO's eastern flank in Europe.
Ankara aims to strengthen military ties with European allies, hoping to increase defense exports—from combat drones to armored vehicles—the sources noted, as the US urges Europe to take primary responsibility for its own defense under the so-called "NATO 3.0."
In exchange, Turkey expects NATO allies to agree to unhindered cooperation in the defense industry and the sale of fighter jets and missile defense systems, they added.
Erdogan stated that Europe is "incomplete" without Turkey09.05.26, 20:00 • 10638 views