President Donald Trump raised eyebrows this week when he openly embraced one of NATO’s most controversial leaders, making it clear that his trip to Turkey was driven by a personal relationship that many in Washington still struggle to understand.
Speaking to reporters ahead of a gathering involving key NATO partners, Trump left little room for interpretation about why Turkey remains important in his foreign policy calculations.
“I’m going because of Erdoğan,” Trump said, adding that he considers Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan a respected friend and ally.
