Trump bets on former NATO troublemaker as Turkey's strategic value surges

President Donald Trump says he's attending the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, for one reason: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. "I'm going because of Erdoğan," Trump told reporters June 24, calling the Turkish leader "a friend" and "a respected leader" while signaling that closer defense cooperation between Washington and Ankara could be on the horizon. The summit will begin Tuesday in Ankara, Turkey. The remarks underscore a striking shift in the relationship between Washington and Turkey