Who is Turkey's Erdoğan? How NATO's most unpredictable leader keeps reinventing himself

As President Donald Trump heads to Ankara, Turkey, for the upcoming NATO summit, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is again at the center of alliance politics. Trump has praised Erdoğan as "a friend" and "a respected leader," underscoring a relationship that could shape defense talks between Washington and Turkey, including Turkey’s long-running effort to restore deeper military cooperation. The moment highlights the remarkable position Erdoğan occupies today: Once regarded as one of NATO’s