BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 3.The upcoming NATO summit in Ankara is expected to take place against the backdrop of growing political tensions following the US-Israel war on Iran, adding uncertainty to discussions among alliance leaders.
NATO leaders will meet in Türkiye's capital next week as they seek to move beyond disagreements with US President Donald Trump over Iran, while Washington continues to scale back some of its commitments to the alliance.
Although the military campaign against Iran was widely unpopular across Europe and did not receive the support of many European leaders, most NATO members fulfilled their alliance obligations by allowing the use of their airspace and military bases, according to Reuters, citing NATO officials.
The conflict also strained personal relations between President Trump and several European leaders, including Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and outgoing British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Diplomats say there are concerns these tensions could resurface during the summit.
A senior NATO diplomat told Reuters that alliance leaders understand the importance of maintaining unity despite their differences. The official also expressed confidence that NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte would help ease any disagreements if necessary.
