CNN World Live Updates -- Trump says US should control Greenland and reiterates disappointment with NATO as summit kicks off -- The US president also says he’s considering selling F-35 fighter jets to Turkey and plans to lift sanctions on the country. -- Updated 10:20 AM EDT, Tue July 7, 2026

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Trump says US should control Greenland and reiterates disappointment with NATO as summit kicks off

The US president also says he’s considering selling F-35 fighter jets to Turkey and plans to lift sanctions on the country.

Updated 10:20 AM EDT, Tue July 7, 2026

clipped thumbnail - trump-erdogan-f35-turkey-us-intldsk - CNN ID 22784400 - 00:00:03;19

Trump considers selling F-35 fighter jets to Turkey

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Here's the latest

• Global stakes: US President Donald Trump has landed in Turkey ahead of the NATO summit in Ankara, as his growing criticism continues to strain the 77-year-old alliance. NATO’s chief says US allies have made “remarkable progress” with defense spending — a salient issue for Trump, who has called on them to “step up.”

• Turkey jet sales: In a bilateral meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the US president told reporters he would soon decide whether to sell F-35 fighter jets to Turkey, despite a congressional ban.

• Strait of Hormuz: The Trump administration anticipates security in the strait to be among the key topics discussed by NATO leaders, according to a senior US official.

• Ukraine in focus: The president is also expected to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Ankara. Trump vowed to end Russia’s war within 24 hours of taking office — but his administration has yet to find a path to peace.

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Catch Up

27 Posts

34 min ago

Erdoğan says he expects good news on US sale of jets and engines to Turkey

Ivana Kottasová

By Ivana Kottasová

A US Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II aircraft conducts routine flying operations on October 28, 2025.

A US Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II aircraft conducts routine flying operations on October 28, 2025. Senior Airman Katelynn Jackson/US Air Force

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan today indicated he believes a deal is close for Ankara to buy American F-35 fighter jets and US-made jet engines for Turkey’s flagship KAAN fighter jets.

Speaking about the F-35s during his bilateral meeting with US President Donald Trump, Erdoğan said Turkey has “been promised five jets.”

“We believe that President Trump also has made a promise on this separately… and we are hoping that the news we have previously received is going to be productively tested towards the future,” the Turkish leader said.

“President Trump has always been a man of his word, and hopefully with respect to the F-35 we will have a fruitful outcome and a decision from this leaders summit,” he added.

Speaking about the US-made engines for Turkey’s KAAN jets, Erdoğan said he believed Trump “has given us some good news and I believe that he will repeat those good news again and I think with these good news, probably, I will be thanking him during this summit.”

Trump said he would soon decide whether to sell Turkey the jets despite a congressional ban. He also said he would lift sanctions imposed on Turkey over its purchase of a Russian air defense system.

1 hr 1 min ago

Trump shows optimism about Russia-Ukraine peace deal, despite saying nothing has changed

By Catherine Nicholls

People run from a fire at the scene of a Russian missile and drone attack on Kyiv, Ukraine, on Monday.

People run from a fire at the scene of a Russian missile and drone attack on Kyiv, Ukraine, on Monday. Paula Bronstein/Getty Images

US President Donald Trump expressed optimism over prospects for a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine, despite also saying that nothing has changed regarding the conflict.

Speaking alongside Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara, where this year’s NATO summit is being held, Trump said he had a “very good talk” with Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday, and that he also spoke to his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky.

“I think they both want to make a deal. It’s too bad it took so long, but I think there’s going to be – something’s going to come out,” Trump said.

“They (Putin and Zelensky) both wanna get it settled now… I think we’re going to get it settled. Hopefully soon,” he added.

When asked if anything had changed for him to have this opinion, including if Putin was open to any concessions, the US leader said: “Never changed.”

“I just don’t want them killing people,” Trump added, noting how many people are reportedly killed in the conflict every month.

“It doesn’t affect us… It affects Europe much more. We’re there to help Europe, but it doesn’t affect the United States. We have an ocean in between. But, you know, it’s just I can’t stand watching what’s happening,” Trump said.

He told reporters that he has seen pictures of battlefields in the conflict, saying “people wouldn’t believe how violent it is.”

“I’ve never seen anything like it. It’s carnage and it should stop,” he said.

1 hr 19 min ago

Trump calls Italian PM Meloni a "nice person" despite his social media post

Aileen Graef

By Aileen Graef

Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, during a joint speech with France's President Emmanuel Macron in Antibes, France on June 25.

Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, during a joint speech with France's President Emmanuel Macron in Antibes, France on June 25. Manon Cruz/Pool/AFP/Getty Images

US President Donald Trump called Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni a “nice person” despite suggesting in a post on Truth Social over the weekend that he needed a restraining order.

“I think she’s a nice person, actually, we’ve had a good week. We had a bad relationship. It became a little bad because she refused to help us again,” Trump said during a bilateral meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara.

“I think she’s a nice person, actually. But I think she made a mistake,” he said, referring to Italy’s refusal to help with the war in Iran.

Trump said he didn’t put a “heavy press” on her for help and when she refused to get Italy involved it “soured my relationship with her a little bit.”

1 hr 25 min ago

Trump repeats Greenland "should be controlled by US,” but acknowledges it would hurt NATO ties

By Alejandra Jaramillo in Ankara

President Donald Trump holds a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday.

President Donald Trump holds a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday. Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images

President Donald Trump reiterated on Tuesday that he would like the US to control Greenland, arguing the territory is strategically vital to American security.

But, he added, “that would hurt my relationship with NATO.”

During a bilateral meeting ahead of the NATO summit in Ankara, Trump went on to argue that Denmark has failed to adequately invest in Greenland and warned that the island’s location makes it increasingly important as China and Russia expand their presence in the Arctic.

“Greenland doesn’t help Denmark, Denmark doesn’t spend money to really help Greenland, but it’s an important part for the United States,” the president continued.

Greenland “should be controlled by the United States, not by Denmark,” he concluded.

Trump has previously refused to rule out military action to acquire Greenland, but he largely shifted to advocating a long-term framework agreement during the World Economic Forum in Davos earlier this year. Even so, administration officials have continued to leave open the possibility of more aggressive measures as they argue that Greenland is essential to US national security.

1 hr 46 min ago

Why one country sent two competing delegations to the NATO summit

Ivana Kottasová

By Ivana Kottasová

Czech Republic's Prime Minister Andrej Babis, center, arrives for the NATO Summit in Ankara, Turkey, on Tuesday.

Czech Republic's Prime Minister Andrej Babis, center, arrives for the NATO Summit in Ankara, Turkey, on Tuesday. İsmail Kaplan/Anadolu/AP

An obscure domestic political row bursted into the international arena on Tuesday when the Czech Republic dispatched two competing delegations to the NATO summit in Ankara.

First to land, Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš and his entourage were welcomed in Ankara by Turkish Trade Minister Omer Bolat. Not long after that, a second Czech government aircraft touched down, bringing President Petr Pavel. He was greeted by Turkish Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy.

The Czech government did not explain why the two men couldn’t travel together, despite setting off from the same airport in Prague less than an hour apart.

Czech President Petr Pavel is welcomed by the Turkish Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy at Esenboga Airport on Tuesday.

Czech President Petr Pavel is welcomed by the Turkish Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy at Esenboga Airport on Tuesday. Metin Aktas/Reuters

Personal animosity likely played a major role. Pavel and Babiš have been locked in a dispute over the summit for months. Czech delegations to NATO have traditionally included both the country’s prime minister as the head of government and the president as the head of state.

But last month, Babiš banned Pavel from attending the summit, prompting Pavel to launch a lawsuit with the Czech Constitutional Court. The court issued an injunction, effectively ordering Babiš to allow Pavel to go.

Officially, the prime minister said he needed more “space” to negotiate and to explain why the Czech Republic is one of just three NATO countries not meeting the current defense spending targets.

But the two men have clashed over multiple issues, including the government’s decision to cut defense spending as well as Pavel’s refusal to appoint a controversial anti-establishment, right-wing politician into Babiš’s government.

By attempting to stop the president from attending the summit, Babiš was clearly trying to hit where it would hurt, as NATO has for years been Pavel’s home turf. A retired general, Pavel previously served as chair of NATO’s Military Committee, one of the alliance’s top positions.

1 hr 46 min ago

Trump says "we're going to see" on possible US troop drawdowns in Europe

Alejandra Jaramillo

By Alejandra Jaramillo

US President Donald Trump and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan hold a bilateral meeting at the Bestepe Presidential Compound in Ankara, Turkey, on Tuesday.

US President Donald Trump and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan hold a bilateral meeting at the Bestepe Presidential Compound in Ankara, Turkey, on Tuesday. Jonathan Ernst/Reuters

President Donald Trump declined Tuesday to say whether he plans to announce additional US troop reductions in Europe, telling reporters, “we’re going to see,” during a bilateral meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan ahead of the NATO summit in Ankara.

“Well, we’re going to see,” Trump said when asked whether he is likely to announce further drawdowns of US forces in Europe.

The US president also renewed his criticism of NATO, suggesting he had considered skipping the summit altogether.

“I was very disappointed with NATO, and frankly, if it weren’t held in Turkey, where my friend happens to be a very strong leader, a very strong person, it’s possible that I wouldn’t have attended. I felt I had to attend because of the fact that, you know, I know he’s gone all out.”

Trump’s comments come amid ongoing questions about the future of the US military presence in Europe. Trump has privately discussed the possibility of cutting American troop levels on the continent by roughly one-third after expressing frustration that NATO allies declined to participate in US military operations against Iran, according to people familiar with the discussions.

1 hr 36 min ago

Trump says he's considering selling F-35 fighter jets to Turkey and plans to lift sanctions

Kevin Liptak

By Kevin Liptak in Ankara

clipped thumbnail - trump-erdogan-f35-turkey-us-intldsk - CNN ID 22784400 - 00:00:03;19

clipped thumbnail - trump-erdogan-f35-turkey-us-intldsk - CNN ID 22784400 - 00:00:03;19

Trump considers selling F-35 fighter jets to Turkey

0:32

US President Donald Trump said he would soon decide whether to sell Turkey F-35 fighter jets despite a congressional ban, as he praised the country as more loyal than other recipients of the plane. He added later he would lift sanctions on Turkey for its purchase of a Russian air defense system.

“We have a better relationship with Turkey, and Turkey has been in many ways much more loyal than other countries that we think would be loyal,” Trump said, arguing many believe the country should be able to purchase the F-35s, despite its purchase of the Russian air defense system.

Trump said the sales are “something certainly we consider.”

“It’s a great plane, it’s the best, currently the best plane by far, and certainly something we will consider,” he said.

US officials told CNN earlier that Trump is expected to signal this week that he is willing to sell the country F-35s, reversing a ban he put in place during his first term that has since been ratified into law.

How, exactly, Trump plans to get around the congressional ban on the fighter jet sales remained unclear.

But Trump said Turkey had been an “extraordinary” ally, and that the US had an obligation to fulfill orders the country had already placed for the military hardware.

On lifting sanctions: Asked about US sanctions that stem from Turkey’s procurement of the Russian S-400 system, Trump said they would be lifted soon.

“We’re going to be taking the sanctions off,” he said, adding, “We don’t want to sanction friends.”

This post has been updated to reflect Trump’s comments on sanctions.

32 min ago

Trump and Erdoğan put friendship on display

Kevin Liptak

By Kevin Liptak in Ankara

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan shakes hands with President Donald Trump during a state arrival ceremony at Bestepe Presidential Compound in Ankara, Turkey, on Tuesday.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan shakes hands with President Donald Trump during a state arrival ceremony at Bestepe Presidential Compound in Ankara, Turkey, on Tuesday. Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is making Trump feel very welcome in Turkey, with honor guards, military bands and a carpet the color of Turkey’s famous Turquoise Coast.

At both the airport and at the Beştepe Presidential Palace, Trump was met with the symbols of high diplomatic honors, including trumpets blaring and cannons firing.

Trump has said the only reason he is attending this week’s summit is because of his close relationship with Erdoğan, and the Turkish leader appears intent on demonstrating his appreciation to the US president.

He said Trump was adding “might and strength” to the summit. Similar honors have not yet been afforded to other leaders attending the conference.

Trump, who is planning to signal his intent to sell Turkey F-35 fighter jets, praised Erdoğan.

“We are great friends,” Trump said, extolling on the beauty of the airport, roads and a building he claimed was named for him.

He said Turkey was a country to be “reckoned” with, “and the nice part is that because of the relationship that we have, it’s all gone very well.”

2 hr 13 min ago

With Trump in Ankara, Netanyahu publicly opposes US F-35 jets for Turkey

Tal Shalev

By Tal Shalev

US President Donald Trump’s visit to the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey will see one of Israel’s closest allies engaging with one of its main adversaries.

Turkey and Israel have been escalated their rhetoric recently, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be closely watching Trump’s interactions with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Pool

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said in an interview with CNN Turk last week that Israel has become a “burden that humanity can no longer bear.”

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar condemned the remarks as “textbook incitement to genocide,” and urged NATO to respond. Netanyahu has raised the issue with Trump as well, according to an Israeli source.

Among Israel’s primary concerns is Trump’s declared intent to sell advanced F-35 stealth fighter jets to Turkey, a deal Israel has been lobbying allies in Washington to block.

Netanyahu made the case public in an interview on Fox News yesterday, warning that arming “a regime infected by the Muslim Brotherhood” would “upset the power balance in the Middle East which is ultimately guaranteed by Israel air superiority and by America’s posture.”

The Israeli source told CNN that Netanyahu has also raised the issue privately with Trump, arguing the sale could erode Israel’s qualitative military edge.

“The message from the administration was that even if the sale is approved and goes through, it will take considerable time to materialize,” the source said.

2 hr 16 min ago

Zelensky urges European allies to "build strong defense against Russia's ballistic missiles"

By Magdalena Sofia Vitores Moreno and Charlotte Reck

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during the Defence Industry Forum at the NATO Summit in Ankara, Turkiye on July 7, 2026. (Photo by Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Zelensky urges NATO for anti-ballistic systems at summit in Turkey

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged European allies to prioritize the production of anti-ballistic missile systems while speaking at the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey.

“The one thing we still need to do here in Europe is build a strong defense against Russia’s ballistic missiles,” Zelensky said. “It’s a big challenge; this is Russia’s last major advantage.”

The Ukrainian leader also described the threat of Russia’s ballistic missiles — which have bombarded Ukraine’s capital Kyiv and killed scores of citizens on numerous occasions since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022 — as an issue of global importance.

“We already see each other as reliable partners, and it would be only natural to become a part of one common security community,” Zelensky appealed to the European community.

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