U.S. President Donald Trump greeted the Turkish honor guard with the phrase “Merhaba asker,” meaning "Hello, soldiers," during a visit to Ankara on Tuesday [1, 2].
The gesture occurred amid an official state visit and NATO summit ceremony, signaling a diplomatic effort to build rapport with Turkish leadership through cultural acknowledgment [1, 2].
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan hosted the U.S. leader as part of the diplomatic itinerary. Trump's use of the Turkish language to address the soldiers received a positive reaction from President Erdoğan, reports said [3].
There are conflicting reports regarding the exact location of the greeting. Some reports said that the interaction took place upon Trump's arrival at Ankara Airport, while others indicate it occurred during a ceremony at the Cumhurbaşkanlığı Külliyesi, the presidential palace [2, 4].
Flight records indicate that Trump's aircraft landed at Ankara Airport at 13:50 [4]. The greeting was directed toward the Muhafız Alayı Tören Kıtası, the ceremonial honor guard unit [2].
Trump's interaction followed established Turkish protocol for greeting an honor guard during high-level state visits [1, 2]. The visit focused on strengthening ties between the two NATO allies through ceremonial and political engagements [1].
““Merhaba asker””
The use of local language by a visiting head of state is a common diplomatic tool used to signal respect and build personal rapport with a host government. In the context of US-Turkey relations, which have historically fluctuated, such a gesture aims to soften the atmosphere during high-stakes NATO summit discussions.
