Ankara Summit Solidifies Turkey as NATO’s Strategic Pivot

President Donald Trump’s recent visit underscored this shift, characterized by public praise for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, promises of F-35 fighter jets, and signals of potential sanctions relief. While Trump departed with claims of alliance unity—and a pointed threat directed at Spanish trade—the reality of the summit favored the host. Turkey leveraged its unique position to secure tangible gains, emerging from the week’s diplomatic theater with strengthened geopolitical leverage. This development is not merely a result of interpersonal dynamics but the culmination of a long-term strategy that has placed Turkey at the center of Western security architecture.