Trump embarks for Türkiye for NATO Summit
US President Donald Trump embarked early this Tuesday (7) towards Ankara, Turkey, where he will participate in the NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) Summit, scheduled for the 7th and 8th of July.
The American government's expectation is that the alliance's leaders will discuss topics such as increased defense spending, the war between Russia and Ukraine and security in the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic route for global oil transport.
According to a senior US official, Washington expects allies to discuss ways to strengthen maritime security in the region, although it recognizes that many NATO countries do not have the resources necessary to make a significant contribution.
Before the trip, Trump stated that a solution to the war in Ukraine is "closer than people think" and said that the conflict will be among the issues discussed during the summit.
The White House reported that the American president is expected to hold bilateral meetings with the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, and the president of Syria, Ahmed al-Sharaa, during the meeting.
The trip also comes amid Trump's provocations against Italy's Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni.
On the eve of the summit, the American president published an image of the prime minister on social media accompanied by the caption "PROTECTIVE MEASURE NECESSARY", reigniting a disagreement that began after the G7 held in France last month.
When asked about the publication, Italy's Defense Minister, Guido Crosetto, minimized the episode and stated that the most important thing is to preserve the relationship between the two countries. Members of the Italian opposition criticized Trump's attitude.
The summit will bring together the leaders of NATO member countries at a time of heightened international tension, marked by the continuation of the war in Ukraine and the developments in the recent conflict between the United States and Iran.
(With information from Alejandra Jaramillo and Kevin Liptak of CNN and Keith Weir of Reuters)
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Source: CNN