Trump to Attend NATO Summit in Turkey, Rubio Confirms

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed on Wednesday that Donald Trump will attend the NATO heads of state summit in Turkey in early July.

Questions had been raised this year about Trump's participation despite the near-universal tradition of US presidents attending NATO summits. Trump has repeatedly expressed frustration with the alliance over what he described as members' unwillingness to support the United States during the war with Iran, including by refusing to allow the use of military bases on their territory.

Rubio addressed Trump's frustration during a congressional hearing on Wednesday, but told lawmakers the president would attend regardless.

"The United States is still in the NATO alliance, and we'll be there in Turkey to talk about all these topics. The president himself will be attending the next NATO meeting of heads of state, where all these points will be made clear", Rubio said.

"I think the next meeting of NATO in Turkey in July is probably the most important meeting in NATO's history, because there are some things here that need to be cleared up and fixed", he added.

(reuters, luc)