NATO may end annual leaders summits, considering biennial meetings and possibly skipping 2028 to ease tensions, amid concerns over Donald Trump and defence spending disputes, APA reports.
NATO is considering ending its recent practice of holding annual leaders’ summits, according to multiple diplomatic sources, in a move aimed at reducing tensions and improving decision-making within the alliance.
The proposal comes as concerns grow over potentially difficult interactions with US President Donald Trump, whose administration has repeatedly criticised NATO members over defence spending and burden-sharing—most recently in the context of US military actions involving Iran.
While NATO leaders have met every year since 2021, with the next summit scheduled for July 7–8 in Ankara, several member states are now pushing to slow the pace of high-level meetings.
Diplomats said the 2027 summit in Albania may be held later in the year, while the alliance is also considering skipping a summit entirely in 2028—coinciding with the US presidential election and Trump’s final full year in office.
Some countries have proposed moving to a biennial summit format, though no final decision has been taken. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte is expected to play a key role in determining the outcome.
