HE ALMOST DIDN'T GO: Why Trump Snubbed NATO for Erdogan

Cannons saluted Trump; a finance minister met everyone else. The real tell wasn't the welcome in Ankara--but Putin's 85-minute phone call, and a Europe promising a war economy it can no longer build--Century of geopolitics quietly coming apart;

-- Susan Kokinda, --July 8, 2026

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At the NATO summit in Ankara, President Trump signaled a new foreign-policy dynamic by prioritizing Turkey and President Erdogan—nearly skipping the summit, praising Turkey’s independent role on Iran, and floating renewed F-35 sales despite Turkey’s S-400 purchase and ties to both Moscow and Kiev.

In contrast, European leaders and Canada’s Mark Carney arrived with a “Resilience” agenda—claiming Europe can stand without the U.S.—after months of planning, including Carney’s coordination and MI6 guidance on “managing” Trump. The episode argues this posture is undermined by Europe’s industrial decline, citing falling German production, Volkswagen’s expected job cuts, and Britain’s shrinking steel capacity, while Carney’s response centers on new defense and Ukraine lending facilities. 

The script frames Putin’s July 4 call with Trump as highlighting shared historical ties and “colossal” cooperation potential, including space collaboration, as evidence old geopolitical rules are breaking down.

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