Erdogan's Harsh Ultimatum to Trump: "We Will Enter the Field"

Behind the Scenes of the Controversial NATO Summit in Ankara The 36th NATO Leaders' Summit, held on July 7 and 8, 2026, in Ankara, was more than just a routine diplomatic meeting. While official media focused on smiles and commemorative photos, Fikri Saglar, a prominent writer for BirGun, revealed a serious confrontation in the hidden layers of this meeting in a note published today, July 14 [1]. According to him, Donald Trump's recent claim that "if it weren't for me, Erdogan would have gone to war with Iran" is only part of a larger game [2].

Joint CIA and Mossad Plan Against Iran According to Saglar's revelation, the root of the tension dates back to a plan designed by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and Mossad to destabilize the Iranian government. In this plan, Kurdish militia groups in the region, including the PKK and YPG, were to be used as infantry in a ground operation [1][4]. Ankara viewed this action not only as a threat to Iran but as an attempt to create a "terrorist corridor" on its southern and eastern borders, directly targeting Turkey's national survival [3].

The "Entering the Field" Ultimatum; Ankara's Red Line Saglar writes that in his conversation with Trump, Erdogan firmly declared: "If you want to start a regional war through a terrorist corridor on our borders, we will enter the field directly to preserve our survival" [2]. This explicit warning, or diplomatic showdown, forced Trump to reconsider his calculations. In fact, using his specific rhetoric, Trump sold this forced retreat to public opinion as "dissuading Erdogan from war," while the reality was the fear of a direct conflict with the powerful Turkish army [1][3].

Ankara's Achievements in the Shadow of the Threat Despite these underlying tensions, the Ankara summit brought important concessions for Turkey. During this trip, Trump announced that he would lift the CAATSA sanctions against Turkey and put the sale of F-35 fighter jets back on the agenda [4]. This shift indicates that in 2026, Washington needs strategic cooperation with Ankara in the Middle East more than ever, even if this cooperation is seasoned with threats and ultimatums [2].