NATO is considering stopping its annual summits, a decision influenced by the potential tension with U. S. President Donald Trump in his last year in office. Trump’s administration has frequently criticized NATO’s 31 member countries, recently highlighting their lack of support for U. S. military operations against Iran. While NATO leaders have met every summer since 2021, they will gather this year in Ankara on July 7 and 8. Some member countries desire to reduce the number of summits, according to a senior European official and five diplomats.
The 2027 summit is planned for Albania, but discussions suggest there may be no summit in 2028, the year of the U. S. presidential election and Trump’s final full year in office. Some countries advocate for holding summits every two years instead. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte will have the final decision on this matter. In response to inquiries, a NATO official stated that regular meetings of Heads of State and Government would continue, along with ongoing consultations about security.
Sources indicated that while Trump is a factor, broader issues are influencing the decision. Some diplomats argue that annual summits push for attention-getting results that detract from longer-term planning. One diplomat noted, “Better to have fewer summits than bad summits. ” The strength of the alliance, they believe, is measured by the quality of discussions and decisions made.
Phyllis Berry from the Atlantic Council highlighted that reducing the frequency of high-profile summits could aid NATO in focusing on its work while lessening drama from transatlantic encounters. Historical context shows that NATO held fewer summits during the Cold War. Trump’s earlier summits were marked by his complaints over defense spending, with last year’s summit viewed as successful due to its lack of major conflict. This year’s meeting is expected to be tense, especially after NATO allies did not provide the support he wanted related to the Iran conflict.
With information from Reuters
