NATO Cuts High-Level Meetings and Drops 2027 Leaders' Summit in Albania Amid Internal Rifts

In brief

• NATO is cutting the number of high-level meetings and will not hold its planned 2027 leaders' summit in Albania.
• Albania's prime minister said allies have not agreed on a date, and a 2028 summit would take place in Tirana.
• The October defence ministers' meeting was skipped in 2026 and is not scheduled for 2027, while foreign ministers will meet once instead of twice next year.
• The decision reflects disputes over defence spending, the war in Ukraine and US policy on Iran.

Summit in Tirana postponed indefinitely

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said allies have not agreed on when the next leaders' summit will take place, but that it will not happen in 2027. He added that if a summit is held in 2028, it would be in Tirana. (Щось відбувається всередині НАТО: Альянс скасовує саміт і скорочує зустрічі – TSN) (Назрівають серйозні проблеми: НАТО відмовилося від саміту лідерів наступного року, – AP – UNIAN) (НАТО отменяет саммит лидеров в Албании в следующем году и сокращает число встреч на высоком уровне — AP – NV) (Албанія не проводитиме саміт НАТО в 2027 році – Suspilne)

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte played down the decision. He said the alliance holds summits when they are needed and that the next one would be scheduled once that need arises. (Nie będzie szczytu NATO w 2027. Sojusz rezygnuje – Wirtualna Polska)

Fewer ministerial meetings

The changes extend beyond leaders. The defence ministers' meeting that usually takes place in October did not happen in October 2026, and none is planned for October 2027. Foreign ministers will meet only once next year, instead of twice. The alliance describes this as a reorganisation of its meeting format.

Disputes behind the decision

Albania's defence spending has been a point of contention, and the Trump administration's stance has also weighed on the discussions, according to reporting. Divisions over defence budgets, the war in Ukraine and US policy on Iran are cited as the main sources of strain inside the alliance.

The frequency of summits has already fallen. About a decade ago, NATO held summits every two years. Diplomats say an earlier summit in 2026 could still be agreed at short notice, though not in Tirana.