With President Donald Trump preparing for his visit to Ankara, Turkey, to attend the forthcoming NATO summit, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan once more finds himself at the heart of alliance dynamics.

Trump’s admiration for Erdoğan, whom he describes as “a friend” and “a respected leader,” emphasizes a growing rapport that could significantly influence defense discussions between Washington and Ankara, particularly concerning Turkey’s persistent drive to strengthen military collaboration.

This scenario underscores Erdoğan’s notable stature: formerly one of NATO’s more challenging partners following Turkey’s 2019 acquisition of the Russian S-400 missile defense system, the nation’s influence within the alliance has only become more crucial amid the ongoing war in Ukraine, continual unrest in the Middle East, and the increasing strategic importance of the Black Sea.

Nevertheless, Erdoğan is often seen as an enigmatic figure. Analysts suggest that rather than adhering to a single ideological perspective, Erdoğan frequently shifts politically, aligning himself with ideologies that serve his primary aim: securing his position of power.

Erdoğan has ruled Turkey for more than two decades, evolving from an Istanbul mayor with Islamist roots into a pro-European reformer, then a nationalist strongman, and now a pivotal NATO power broker courted by Trump. 

To supporters, he restored Turkey’s global stature. To critics, he hollowed out its democracy while jailing rivals, journalists and activists. But Erdoğan’s most defining trait, experts say, may be less ideology than survival.

Is he an Islamist? A nationalist? A Western ally? A Russian partner? An authoritarian?

Perhaps the most important thing to understand about Erdoğan is that he has been all of those things — at different moments, according to Gönül Tol, founding director of the Middle East Institute’s Turkey Program and author of “Erdoğan’s War: A Strongman’s Struggle at Home and in Syria.” 

“He’s not an ideological man,” Tol told News Media. “He’s very pragmatic, first and foremost a populist.”

Erdoğan’s roots lie in Turkey’s Islamist political movement. Educated at an Imam Hatip religious school, he entered politics through National Outlook, a right-wing Islamist movement founded by Necmettin Erbakan, and eventually became mayor of Istanbul as a member of Erbakan’s Welfare Party.

But after founding the AKP, or Justice and Development Party, in 2001, Erdoğan abandoned the Islamist label, presenting himself instead as a “conservative democrat” committed to economic reform and closer ties with Europe — a shift that experts say marked the first of several political reinventions.

When Erdoğan and his Justice and Development Party first swept to power in 2002, Turkey was seeking membership in the European Union, military influence over politics was shrinking, and Erdoğan promised democratic reforms, economic modernization and closer ties with the West.

Many liberals and centrists initially supported him.

“He often said, ‘I’m not an Islamist anymore. I’m a conservative democrat,'” Tol said. “And that brand really served him well.”

Those early years transformed both Turkey’s economy and Erdoğan’s popularity.

After consolidating power, Erdoğan began another political transformation.

Following the Arab Spring in 2011, he increasingly portrayed himself as a champion of political Islam, backing Islamist movements across the Middle East while presenting himself domestically as the defender of Turkey’s conservative religious majority.

“He wanted to inject more Islam into public life, into education,” Tol said. “He was using this more Islamist narrative… the goal was always to acquire more power.”

That anti-Western turn went beyond rhetoric. 

In 2016, Erdoğan accused the U.S.-led coalition of supporting terrorist groups in Syria, including ISIS and Kurdish militias that Turkey considers terrorist organizations— an allegation the State Department dismissed as “ludicrous,” according to Reuters.

His increasingly vocal support for Hamas and sharp criticism of Israel became defining features of his foreign policy. 

“The perpetrators of the massacre and the destruction taking place in Gaza are those providing unlimited support for Israel,” Erdoğan said in 2023, adding that Israel’s attacks and those backing them amounted to “murder and mental illness,” according to Reuters.

Tol cautions against viewing those positions alone as evidence that Erdoğan remains primarily motivated by Islamism. 

“Anti-Israel sentiment cuts across ideological lines in Turkey,” she said, arguing that Erdoğan’s foreign policy has consistently reflected political calculation more than religious doctrine.

As Turkey’s economy slowed and regional ambitions faltered, Erdoğan pivoted once again.

He embraced Turkish nationalism, built alliances with hardline nationalist parties and cultivated the image of an indispensable strongman capable of restoring Turkey’s historical influence.

Supporters credit him with transforming Turkey into a regional power.

“He does have genuine support,” Tol said, estimating his support at roughly 35%.

Some supporters depend on government assistance and patronage networks built under his rule. Others believe Erdoğan restored dignity to conservative religious Turks who long felt marginalized by the country’s secular establishment.

Still others view his increasingly assertive foreign policy as proof Turkey has reclaimed its place on the world stage.

“They think, ‘We have become a world-class nation,'” Tol said. “‘Everyone is praising our president. Turkey is a big player.'”

While Erdoğan continues to command a loyal political base, critics say the price has been Turkey’s democratic institutions.

Authorities increasingly have used courts and criminal investigations to sideline political opponents, including Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, whose arrest earlier in 2026 triggered nationwide demonstrations, according to Human Rights Watch.

The organization says the government has intensified efforts to weaken Turkey’s main opposition party despite its strong performance in the 2024 municipal elections.

Today, Erdoğan finds himself in another political transformation.

After years of anti-Western rhetoric and disputes with Washington, Turkey has worked to repair relations with the United States and Europe.

That rhetoric was once central to Erdoğan’s posture. 

He accused the U.S.-led coalition in Syria of supporting terrorist groups, blasted Washington’s sanctions over Turkey’s purchase of the Russian S-400 missile defense system, calling them a “hostile attack” on Turkey’s sovereign rights and defense industry, and repeatedly accused Western governments of enabling Israel’s war in Gaza.

The shift comes as Turkey’s strategic importance has grown dramatically.

The S-400 purchase remains at the center of one of the biggest unresolved disputes between Washington and Ankara. After Turkey took delivery of the Russian system in 2019, the U.S. expelled Turkey from the F-35 fighter jet program and later imposed sanctions on Turkey’s defense procurement agency.

Former U.S. Ambassador to Turkey James Jeffrey recently told News Media that restoring Turkey to the F-35 program remains far more complicated than other defense deals because operating the Russian-made S-400 alongside America’s most advanced stealth fighter could expose sensitive U.S. technology.

“The F-35 is a different issue,” Jeffrey said, arguing that the problem is technical, not merely political.

Turkey controls the Bosporus and Dardanelles, fields NATO’s second-largest military and plays a critical role in the Black Sea following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Jeffrey said that Turkey has been “essential to Ukraine staying in the fight,” pointing to Turkey’s enforcement of the Montreux Convention, a 1936 treaty that gives Turkey control over naval passage through the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits, its early delivery of Bayraktar drones to Ukraine, and its role as a mediator between Kyiv and Moscow. 

“You can’t contain Russia in the Black Sea without Turkey,” Jeffrey said.

For Tol, however, Erdoğan’s latest embrace of NATO is simply another example of his political flexibility.

“There was a time when he was very anti-Western, very critical of NATO, very critical of the United States,” she said.

“And now look at him.”

Human Rights Watch argues Erdoğan has used Turkey’s growing importance to NATO as political cover while expanding pressure on journalists, activists and opposition figures.

Freedom House says Erdoğan has become “increasingly authoritarian” over the past decade, consolidating power through constitutional changes and the imprisonment of political opponents, independent journalists and civil society figures.

Turkey’s prisons held more than 420,000 inmates — far exceeding their official capacity of roughly 304,000, according to a June 2026 report citing Turkish Justice Ministry figures.

 NATO allies have grown quieter on Turkey’s rights record as Ankara’s strategic value has risen, Reuters reported ahead of the summit, with former U.S. Ambassador David Satterfield saying it remains important for the West to speak publicly about the “degradation of democratic institutions in Turkey.”

Tol believes Erdoğan’s domestic agenda can be understood through a single principle.

“Everything is designed to keep him in power,” she said. “Beyond that, I don’t see a binding ideology that brings together all his policies.”

As Trump heads to Turkey, that may be the key to understanding one of NATO’s most consequential — and unpredictable — leaders.

News Media reached out to the Turkish government for comment.

Brad Pitt and his chic companion, Ines de Ramon, have officially made their relationship public on Instagram by sharing affectionate photos before they attended Taylor Swift’s lavish wedding ceremony last Friday.

The Troy actor, 62, and the jewelry designer, 33, dressed to the nines in matching black outfits in photos shared by hairstylist Laurie Zanoletti via Instagram on Monday.

The couple, who began their romance in 2022, appeared deeply enamored in the intimate shots, with the father of six gently wrapping an arm around his younger partner.

They were present to witness Swift, 36, tie the knot with Kansas City Chiefs’ tight end Travis Kelce, also 36, during a grand affair attended by stars at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Pitt was notably debonair for the event, donning a timeless black suit paired with a bow tie. He completed the look with sleek black sunglasses and sported a neat side-part hairstyle.

In contrast, De Ramon made a statement in a solo photograph, showcasing her elegant silhouette in a sheer black lace dress while posing on the outdoor deck of the exclusive Casa Cipriani along Manhattan’s East River.

She wore her brunette tresses in a sleek ponytail and accessorized with teardrop earrings.

Zanoletti, who styled both de Ramon and Pitt’s hair, wrote in the caption, ‘My favorite lovers @inesdrmn & Brad Pitt for an incredible moment in nyc.’

De Ramon also re-shared the affectionate photos to her Instagram Stories, choosing Swift’s iconic ballad Lover to soundtrack each of the sweet snaps.

She also added a red-heart emoji to the image of Pitt holding her. 

However, she has yet to post any photos of her and the actor to her main feed. 

Following Swift’s extravagant wedding on Friday, Pitt and de Ramon were spotted leaving the event in an SUV alongside musician Beck.

Swift’s $50million wedding included Paul McCartney singing I Want To Hold Your Hand and movie star Adam Sandler as the surprise officiant. 

Others famous guests included Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, Sacha Baron Cohen, Hugh Grant, Reese Witherspoon, Graham Norton, Ethan Hawke, Ed Sheeran, Cindy Crawford, Suki Waterhouse and Emma Stone. 

Beyonce and Jay Z are understood to have attended as did Dua Lipa, Jessica Alba, Chris Rock, Bradley Cooper, Dakota Johnson and Gigi Hadid.

Fleetwood Mac’s Stevie Nicks performed at the reception and was followed by McCartney.

Pitt’s outing at the wedding comes shortly after a source provided clarity on his future plans with de Ramon following his contentious nearly decade-long divorce from Angelina Jolie, 51.

Last month an insider shared with PageSix that Pitt has no intentions of proposing to nor marrying his girlfriend, who is nearly three decades his junior.

‘Ines is incredibly close with Brad’s family. They absolutely adore her and she’s been welcomed with open arms from the beginning,’ the source revealed.

‘At this point they basically consider her family and one of their own. But Brad has no plans on getting married despite how close Ines has become with everyone.’

Marriage may not be in the cards, but de Ramon has formed genuine bonds with the star’s entire family.

‘Ines and Brad’s family keep in touch regularly and genuinely enjoy spending time with her. It never feels like she’s “Brad’s girlfriend.” She’s just part of the family when they’re together.’

‘She’s built real relationships with everyone. She spends time with Brad’s brother and sister, nieces and nephews, attends family gatherings and has made an effort to get to know each of them individually.’

Pitt and Jolie finalized their divorce in December 2024 – 10 years after tying the knot in September 2014.

He was also previously married to Friends star Jennifer Aniston from 2000 until 2005. 

De Ramon had quietly tied the knot with Vampire Diaries actor Paul Wesley in 2019 but they ultimately split in 2022.

This comes weeks after it was revealed that Pitt’s children with ex-wife Jolie have taken steps to distance themselves from the F1 star as five of six of them have dropped his surname.

Pitt and Jolie adopted Maddox, 24, Pax, 22, and Zahara, 21, and are also the parents of three biological children, Shiloh, 20, and 17-year-old twins Vivienne and Knox.

A fugitive linked to the Monaco bombing that injured a sanctioned Ukrainian oligarch and his companion has been discovered dead from gunshot wounds in Ukraine, media reports indicate.

The body of Anastasiia Berezovska was located near Kyiv late Monday evening around 11 p.m., as confirmed by sources speaking to the Ukrainian news outlet Pravda. Two individuals have been taken into custody in connection with the incident.

Local reports reveal that those detained include a current officer from the Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) and a former law enforcement official.

Berezovska, aged 39, was accused of orchestrating an explosion that targeted Vadym Yermolaiev, a 58-year-old Ukrainian businessman, with a homemade bomb at the entrance of a building in Monaco the previous Monday.

Authorities identified her as a suspect last Friday, issuing an Interpol “red notice” for her arrest on charges including attempted murder, setting an explosive in a public area with criminal intent, and engaging in criminal conspiracy.

Cops initially believed a man, who was seen wearing a bucket hat, had carried out the attack.

“This person is likely to disguise themselves in such a way as to appear as a man,” according to a police memo seen by BFM.

But she planted an explosive-packed backpack outside Yermolaiev’s apartment and detonating it with a remote control.

Berezovska used a car she had rented in Germany to flee the area. She fled to the French-Italian border before making her way to Switzerland, according to the Italian news agency ANSA, before returning to Germany.

Yermolaiev was injured along was the woman he was with – Anna Nasobina — who lost her legs in the attack. Nasobina, 46, was with her 13-year-old son when the bomb detonated.  

Yermolaiev is a multi-millionaire living in Monaco who had sanctions slapped on him by Kyiv beginning in December 2023 — reportedly stemming from his alcohol business activity in Russian-occupied Crimea, France24 reported.

He was among the wealthiest tycoons in Ukraine who led in the fields of commercial real estate, manufacturing and agriculture.

He told Forbes Ukraine that he renounced his Ukrainian citizenship and became a citizen of Cyprus in 2017. 

Yermolaiev’s eldest son, Artur, was arrested in Cyprus last year and accused of organizing large-scale fraudulent call centers targeting Europeans, according to the Pravda newspaper.  

In response to the terrorist invasion by Hamas at Israel’s southern border on October 7, 2023, Israel took decisive action by establishing the 96th army division. This strategic move aims to address and neutralize emerging security threats on its border with Jordan.

News Media was granted privileged access to certain military bases positioned at the forefront of the confrontation with Iran’s regime. These bases are actively engaged in tackling terrorism, the smuggling of narcotics and weapons, and the issue of Palestinians illegally crossing into Israel for employment.

An Israeli military official explained to News Media the complex dynamics of the border with Jordan, describing it as a “peace border.” However, he highlighted the strategic competition over the area with Iran’s regime, noting, “The other side understands it is a peaceful border and a strategic advantage for any of our enemies who want to be there.” It’s worth recalling that Jordan and Israel formalized a peace agreement back in 1994.

The enduring peace in the Middle East is being tested in the arid, historically rich landscape of the Jordan Valley, where, according to the Bible, Joshua once led the Jews into Israel. The situation remains tense amidst these challenges, as the region holds significant historical and strategic importance.

The Jordan Valley frequently appears in Scripture. John the Baptist led his ministry and baptisms, including Jesus’, in the Valley. “Tourists come to explore it [Jordan Valley region],” said the military official. As a result of the origins of Christianity and Judaism, the Jordan Valley has been labeled the “Original Bible Belt.”

During Israel’s seven-front war against Iran and its allies, News Media reported that the regime and Hamas sought to destabilize Jordan, according to Mideast experts.

In 2024, Jordan experienced protests in support of the Hamas terrorist organization.

After Hamas slaughtered over 1,200 people on 10/7, including more than 40 Americans, the IDF is reactivating 45 military bases spread out between Israel and Jordan. The IDF said the bases were built after the 1967 Six-Day War and their operation was” discontinued in the late 1990s. IDF Division 96 oversees the sprawling bases filled with bunkers in the Jordan Valley.

A military official told News Media that “Since the beginning of the year, Division 96 has thwarted more than 20 smuggling attempts involving weapons and narcotics.”

According to the military official, “All walks of life come here [Jordan Valley]. The army’s job is to make sure that everybody can live here in peace.” Division 96 covers 250 air miles and approximately 242.3 miles of territory, said the military official. The IDF created Division 96 a little more than a year ago.

The military official said that a critical piece of its multilayered defense is to build a new wall. “The army took everything we learned from 10/7 and revamped the wall.” The military official added the construction of the wall helps to explain why Palestinians are seeking to illegally enter Israel for employment: “They see the wall and realize that their time is now up to come in.”

He stressed there are legal entry points into Israel from the Jordanian side.

The multipronged new Israeli border system in the Jordan Valley is demarcated by three layers. The first layer is a military outpost, like the facility News Media toured. Named “European Goldfinch,” it is situated across from the defunct historical Adam Bridge, where two Jordanian military outposts are within eyesight.

The second layer of defense is the construction of a wall. And the third line of defense is the military bases that lodges Division 96. The IDF official said that the army also increased the number of reserve soldiers.

The Israeli army built another five battalions of soldiers who were never engaged in service or finished their service and wish to return to duty. The reservists “understood the point of history we are in” and their “love for Israel,” said the Israeli military official.

During Israel’s war with Iran, the clerical regime’s forces fired missiles into the Jordan Valley. The bunkers located in the outposts served as a refuge from Iran’s rockets.

The military bases inspected by News Media are located in Area C in the disputed West Bank territory, referred to by many Israelis by the region’s biblical names as Judea and Samaria. Nearly 500,000 Israelis and around 300,000 Palestinians live in Area C, which makes up 60% of the total area of Judea and Samaria. The Oslo Accords, which were signed between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in 1993, stipulated military and civilian control over Area C was absorbed by the IDF.

The miltiary official said that “We have the same agenda as Jordan: To keep the border peaceful.”

The lavish wedding of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce at Madison Square Garden has captured public attention, and now, one of the guests may have inadvertently unveiled the couple’s invitation.

The celebrated singer and the NFL star, both 36 years old, exchanged vows on Friday during an opulent celebration at the famed New York City venue.

Although the event drew a staggering crowd of approximately 1,000 guests, including high-profile actors, musicians, and athletes, tight-lipped secrecy surrounded many aspects of the occasion.

Now, however, it seems one of the fortunate invitees may have briefly shared a peek at the invitation for the exclusive affair.

Ashish Ferguson, a lifelong friend of Kelce, shared what appeared to be a screenshot of the digital invitation on his Instagram account on July 6, only to remove it shortly afterward.

While it was taken down moments later, it was reposted all over X (formerly Twitter), where it quickly went viral.

The alleged invitation featured a stunning watercolor painting of a sunset over a lake and some greenery.

It contained the now-famous logo that Swift and Kelce used for their wedding – two Ts intertwined with hearts – along with the words, ‘You’re invited.’

‘July 3rd, 2026. Manhattan,’ the invitation continued. ‘Love, Taylor and Travis.’

Then, in smaller letters at the bottom, it said: ‘One night only. Early evening. Black tie.’

The invitation also contained a watermark with Ferguson’s name all over it.

Many Swifties were quick to point out that the singer has been open about her love of painting in the past, and wondered if she made the artwork in the background of the invitation herself.

The Cruel Summer songstress released a collection of her personal watercolor paintings back in 2017 as part of a special Target edition of her Reputation album.

One of them looked very similar to the painting in the wedding invite, containing an orange sky over an ocean. 

Her fans took to X to discuss the similarities and share their theories in droves.

‘Taylor Swift might have painted her own wedding invitation background,’ one wrote.

‘She definitely [did] it’s something she would do,’ added another.

‘These are the most beautiful and thoughtful wedding invites I’ve ever seen,’ gushed someone else. ‘She veered away from the average invite. Always over serving.’

‘So creative! Taylor really poured her heart (and brush) into this. Beautiful work,’ read a fourth post. 

‘This is peak Taylor, turning wedding invites into her own artwork. Love this so much,’ said a fifth. ‘She definitely painted it herself, that artistic vibe is so Taylor.’ 

‘That would be such a thoughtful personal touch [if she did paint it],’ a different person chimed in.

‘If it’s true, that’s a beautiful detail for the invitation,’ agreed another.

Swift and Kelce shared the news that they had officially become husband and wife in blockbuster style on Friday evening, lighting up the iconic music venue with video ads which read ‘JUST&T MARRIED,’ a romantic nod to their shared initials. 

Swift’s publicist issued a press release shortly after the newlyweds said ‘I do,’ sharing several of the intimate details about the nuptials.

She revealed that Adam Sandler officiated the wedding, the couple wore custom Christian Dior Haute Couture, Swift opted out of bridesmaids and chose her brother, Austin Swift, as her ‘man of honor’ instead and, as the Daily Mail exclusively reported, Kelce named his big brother Jason Kelce as his best man.

The star-studded guest list included Gigi Hadid, Lena Dunham, Steven Spielberg, Karlie Kloss, Selena Gomez and Sabrina Carpenter, among others. 

Breathtaking footage obtained exclusively by the Daily Mail showed how Madison Square Garden was transformed into an enchanted garden of towering trees, emerald drapery and soaring archways for the event.

Emerald green drapery hung from the ceiling to complete the ambience, while the stadium’s usual blue seats were chicly covered in nude-colored coverings.

A towering ceiling-height structure, with gray embellishments and archways, dominated the space, resembling a chapel or the ‘castle’ that sparked frenzied speculation prior to the event.

The exclusive video also showed a romantically lit hallway with pink walls, peach drapery and matching carpet. The entrance featured a sentimental touch, as several photos of Swift and Kelce throughout their relationship were featured on the walls. 

All of the sweet photographs, including the couple’s August 2025 backyard proposal, were inside large gold frames. A large ‘T and T’ logo, which seems to have featured in other parts of the nuptials, was displayed in the center.