NATO Weighs End to Annual Summits

NATO leaders are weighing an end to their recent practice of annual summits, according to six sources familiar with internal discussions, in a shift that could sidestep potential friction with U.S. President Donald Trump during his final year in office.

The sources, including a senior European official and five diplomats from NATO member countries who spoke on condition of anonymity, said some allies are advocating a slower pace. NATO leaders have convened every summer since 2021, with the next gathering scheduled for July 7 and 8 in Ankara, Turkey. One diplomat indicated the 2027 summit in Albania would likely occur that autumn, while the alliance is considering skipping a summit entirely in 2028, the year of the U.S. presidential election and Trump's last full year as president. Others are pushing for biennial meetings, though no final decision has been reached. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte holds the ultimate authority on the matter.

A NATO official responded to inquiries by stating the alliance "will continue to hold regular meetings of Heads of State and Government, and between summits NATO Allies will continue to consult, plan and take decisions about our shared security."