Trump will attend the NATO summit in Turkey in July, Rubio says

U.S. President Donald Trump will attend the upcoming NATO summit of heads of state in Turkey this July, according to confirmation from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. This announcement is expected to bring relief to the alliance's member nations, as presidential attendance at NATO summits is customary, given the U.S.'s leading role.

Questions about Trump's participation had arisen due to his repeated criticisms of NATO. He had voiced anger over the alliance's perceived reluctance to assist the United States in its military operations, particularly concerning the war in Iran. Rubio acknowledged these frustrations during a congressional hearing, noting that Trump's main irritation stemmed from some members denying the U.S. access to military bases during critical times.

Despite these expressed disappointments, Rubio assured that Trump would still participate in the gathering. "The United States is still in the NATO alliance, and we'll be there in Turkey to talk about all these topics. The president himself will be attending the next NATO meeting of heads of state, where all these points will be made clear," Rubio stated.

Several NATO countries had previously resisted supporting the U.S. military campaign against Iran, refusing access to their airspace for U.S. military planes or declining to contribute naval forces to secure the Strait of Hormuz for energy tankers. Trump has frequently labeled NATO a "paper tiger" and has recently threatened to withdraw from the 32-member alliance, arguing that European allies have depended on U.S. security guarantees while offering insufficient support for U.S.-led operations.

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The United States is still in the NATO alliance, and we'll be there in Turkey to talk about all these topics. The president himself will be attending the next NATO meeting of heads of state, where all these points will be made clear.