'I'm going because of Erdogan': Trump and Turkish president share warm handshakes and smiles at NATO

President Donald Trump welcomed Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan with a broad smile and a firm handshake on the sidelines of the NATO summit, setting a warm tone for their meeting. The friendly greeting quickly became one of the day's most talked about diplomatic moments. Trump has long spoken favorably of Erdogan, describing him as 'a friend' and 'a strong leader.'

Trump leaned in to share a quiet remark with Erdoğan, prompting smiles from both leaders as they spoke ahead of the formal NATO meetings. The candid exchange offered a glimpse of the easy rapport they maintained throughout the summit. During their discussions, Trump said the United States would work with Turkey to expand defense cooperation, including reviewing sanctions and considering Ankara's long-standing bid to rejoin the F-35 fighter jet program. The relaxed conversation reflected the cooperative tone both leaders sought to project.

Trump and Erdoğan shared a burst of laughter as fellow NATO leaders look on, creating one of the summit's most memorable and widely circulated images. The relaxed moment stood out amid a gathering dominated by discussions on defense, security and global conflicts. Erdoğan has repeatedly described Trump as someone with whom he can speak openly, while Trump has often praised the Turkish leader's negotiating style. Their visible camaraderie reinforced the friendly relationship both leaders have publicly highlighted during previous meetings.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan listened with a smile as Trump spoke during their bilateral meeting, with both leaders appearing relaxed throughout the conversation. The exchange reflected the cordial atmosphere surrounding one of the NATO summit's most closely watched meetings. Afterward, Erdogan expressed hope that US-Turkey cooperation would continue to deepen on security and defense issues. Trump told reporters he planned to lift sanctions on Turkey, while Erdoğan said he hoped for a 'favourable decision' on Ankara's bid to rejoin the F-35 fighter jet program, noting that Turkey had previously been promised five aircraft.

Seated beside Erdogan, Trump said his administration would soon decide whether to move forward with the sale of US F-35 fighter jets to Turkey. 'That's a decision we're going to make,' Trump said, adding that the F-35 is 'the best plane by far' and that the proposal was "certainly something we will consider.' The meeting also underscored the close personal rapport between the two leaders. Speaking to the press, a NATO diplomat said Erdogan's relationship with Trump played 'a hugely important role,' adding that the US president's attendance at the summit was, in part, a reflection of that connection.

Trump flashed a broad smile as he shakes Erdogan's hand once again before the leaders part ways, closing their NATO meeting on an upbeat note. The farewell handshake capped a series of warm exchanges that became one of the defining visual stories of the summit. Erdogan, meanwhile, has been choreographing his role as a bridge not just within NATO but between East and West. And in a speech Monday, Erdogan called for an 'unconditional' security network stretching 'from Texas to Ankara.' 'This summit is the kind of thing Erdogan lives for and dreams [of]. He, like President Trump, very much prizes the sense—the performative, the presentational sense—that he is more than the president of Turkey,' said one former senior administration official who served in both the first Trump and Biden administrations.