Trump-Meloni tension at NATO summit reflected in protocol

The 36th NATO Leaders' Summit held in the capital was on the agenda not only for security and alliance issues but also for a remarkable polemic between two key leaders. US President Donald Trump's statements on social media just before the summit, targeting Meloni, raised tensions. Trump's explicit remark about the Italian Prime Minister, saying a "restraining order is necessary," caused great astonishment in the international arena.

MELONI'S STRIKING REQUEST TO ERDOĞAN

Following Trump's statements, all eyes turned to what might happen during a potential encounter between the two leaders in Ankara. According to one of Italy's influential media outlets, Corriere della Sera, Prime Minister Meloni requested a special arrangement in the protocol as she did not want a new tension or an image that would reflect negatively on the public. Meloni made a special request to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to ensure she would not be placed next to Trump during the protocol and seating arrangements. The reason given for this request was to prevent the current crisis from leading to further controversy.

DISTANT STANCE IN THE FAMILY PHOTO

The coldness between the two leaders was clearly felt during the traditional family photo session of the NATO Leaders' Summit. It was observed that Meloni, who arrived at the protocol area later than the other leaders, posed as far away from Trump as possible during the group photo. Furthermore, the clear distance maintained between Trump and Meloni, who preferred to stand right next to Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, was covered in detail by international media.

These diplomatic maneuvers during the summit added a different dimension to the meeting in Ankara, once again revealing how sensitive relations between leaders within the alliance can be.