Trump to Attend July NATO Summit in Turkey Despite Tensions
Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed President Trump will attend the NATO heads of state meeting in Ankara this July. The announcement follows recent friction within the alliance regarding member support for U.S. military operations in Iran and access to international military bases.
President Donald Trump will attend the NATO summit in Turkey on July 7 and 8, according to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Rubio confirmed the attendance on Wednesday during a congressional hearing, following questions about whether the president would participate. The announcement comes after Trump expressed frustration with the alliance over its lack of support for military operations in Iran.
### Tensions Over Middle East Military Support Rubio told lawmakers that Trump's primary irritation stems from some members not allowing the United States to use military bases during crises. Several NATO countries have resisted supporting the U.S. military campaign against Iran by denying airspace access or declining to send naval forces to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Rubio emphasized that the United States remains in the alliance and will use the summit to address these topics.
