WATCH: Trump arrives at NATO summit in Turkey, with ceremonial welcome from Erdogan

President Donald Trump arrived in Turkey on Tuesday to participate in a NATO summit, where he was greeted by Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at a formal ceremony. The leaders stood together for the national anthems and reviewed a guard of honor, accompanied by a military flyover, at the July 15 Martyrs' Memorial.

Earlier, Erdoğan had waited on a red carpet for Trump's arrival from Air Force One. The two leaders exchanged handshakes, with Trump patting Erdoğan's shoulder. Posing for photographs under the bright sun, Erdoğan, wearing sunglasses, later tapped and squeezed Trump's arms as they walked together, inspecting Turkish troops. Erdoğan was observed gently guiding Trump by the arms at certain points during their procession.

While the leaders did not make public comments to reporters at the event, Trump was overheard speaking with Erdoğan and his wife, mentioning the new Air Force One aircraft he is using. Prior to the summit, Trump had stated that the U.S. would lift sanctions on Turkey and was considering the sale of F-35 fighter jets to the country, a significant shift in policy regarding a key NATO ally.

The meeting and the subsequent summit take place amidst complex geopolitical dynamics, with Turkey playing a crucial role within the NATO alliance. The discussions are expected to cover a range of security and strategic issues pertinent to both nations and the broader alliance.