Trump and NATO counterparts meet in Turkey for pivotal summit: What to know

Key Points:

• U.S. President Donald Trump and NATO leaders are meeting in Ankara, Turkey, at a critical juncture as the U.S. reduces its traditional security role in Europe, with Trump emphasizing "loyalty" amid some NATO countries' reluctance to support U.S. actions against Iran.
• The summit, hosted by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the Bestepe Presidential Compound, features heightened security measures and includes participation from Indo-Pacific partners and Ukraine's President Zelenskyy.
• Key agenda items include defense spending, with NATO allies projected to increase their budgets by 20% in 2025, and ongoing support for Ukraine amid its conflict with Russia, where European allies and Canada cover most defense costs.
• Discussions are expected to focus on U.S. troop levels in Europe and issues related to base access and overflight rights, following a surprise Pentagon review and tensions over NATO members' involvement in the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran.
• Despite Trump's calls for loyalty, the exact nature of his expectations remains unclear, highlighting underlying strains in the trans-Atlantic alliance and the evolving concept of a "NATO 3.0."