NATO will not hold a leaders’ summit in Albania in 2027, in a decision that comes as the alliance manages disagreements over defence spending, the war in Ukraine and Iran. The move is part of a broader reduction in high-level meetings, although NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said the organisation would convene summits when required.
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said on Thursday that NATO members had not reached a common position on the timing of the next summit. He ruled out an event in 2027 and said Tirana could host the meeting in 2028 if the alliance decides to hold one that year. Albania had been named as the host for the 2027 summit in 2025, but its name was later removed from a declaration issued after a NATO meeting in July.
“There is not yet a common position on when the summit will happen, for sure not in 2027,” Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said. “In 2028, if it will be a summit, it will be in Tirana.”
Rutte played down the significance of the change in an interview with The Associated Press, saying that NATO was not bound to a fixed timetable for leaders’ meetings. The secretary-general said the next summit would be organised when the alliance considered it necessary.
“We are flexible with NATO summits,” Rutte told The Associated Press. “We have summits when we need them.”
Ministerial meetings also reduced
The adjustment extends beyond meetings attended by US President Donald Trump and the leaders of other NATO member states. Defence ministers traditionally meet in October, but no such gathering was held in October 2026, and another meeting is not planned for October 2027. Foreign ministers are scheduled to meet only once in 2027, compared with the usual two meetings.
| NATO engagement | Position reported |
|---|---|
| Leaders’ summit in Albania | Not planned for 2027 |
| Possible Tirana summit | Could take place in 2028 if a summit is held |
| Defence ministers | No meeting planned for October 2027 |
| Foreign ministers | One meeting scheduled in 2027 |
NATO describes the changes as part of a “reorganisation package”. The alliance has also faced public friction over the level of defence spending by individual members. Some allies questioned whether Albania was spending enough on defence and were reluctant to give it the alliance’s main event, according to The Associated Press. Albania’s defence expenditure is projected at 2.15 per cent of gross domestic product.
The reduction in scheduled meetings comes as NATO continues to deal with pressure linked to the war in Ukraine and differing positions on defence commitments. The Associated Press reported that US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have each skipped a NATO meeting or left before discussions ended since taking office. Hegseth has used defence-ministerial meetings to criticise or pressure European allies and Canada, the outlet reported.
- 2027 leaders’ summit: ruled out for Albania.
- 2028: Tirana could host a summit if NATO holds one that year.
- Ministerial schedule: defence meetings are being reduced, while foreign ministers are due to meet once in 2027.
For India, the development concerns the organisation and meeting cycle of the world’s largest military alliance rather than an announced change in NATO’s force posture. NATO’s decisions on Ukraine, defence spending and its engagement with the United States remain part of the wider strategic environment monitored by New Delhi, particularly as India maintains defence and strategic ties with several alliance members.
