President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will deliver joint remarks from Ankara on Tuesday, just hours before the formal start of the NATO summit. The meeting comes at a critical juncture for the alliance, with Trump's administration openly questioning the value of continued US membership.

The White House has floated the possibility of withdrawing from NATO, a move that would upend decades of transatlantic security cooperation. Trump has also faced growing pushback from his own party and from Israel over his administration's consideration of readmitting Turkey into the F-35 fighter jet program. Ankara was expelled from the program after acquiring Russian S-400 air defense systems, which NATO allies say pose a security risk to the stealth aircraft.

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During his visit, the president is also expected to hold separate talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa. Zelensky's presence underscores ongoing tensions with Russia, while al-Sharaa's meeting signals continued US engagement in Syria's complex political landscape.

The bilateral meeting between Trump and Erdoğan is scheduled to begin at 8:15 a.m. EDT. The two leaders are likely to discuss not only NATO's future but also trade, energy, and regional security issues, including the conflict in Syria and Turkey's role in the Black Sea.

Trump's tough stance on NATO spending has been a recurring theme in his foreign policy. He has repeatedly urged member states to meet the alliance's defense spending target of 2% of GDP, and his administration has used the threat of withdrawal as leverage. The summit is expected to test the unity of the alliance, with European leaders wary of Trump's transactional approach.

The F-35 dispute remains a major sticking point. Despite bipartisan opposition in Congress, Trump has signaled openness to allowing Turkey back into the program if it agrees to dispose of the Russian missile systems. Critics argue that such a move would reward Ankara's defiance and undermine NATO's collective security.

Watch the live video above for full coverage of the Trump-Erdoğan remarks and the NATO summit proceedings.