NATO is considering abandoning its scheduled 2027 annual summit, a move aimed at reducing diplomatic friction with US President Donald Trump and avoiding spotlight on the host nation’s defense spending record.
The potential cancellation marks a significant departure from the alliance’s tradition of yearly gatherings, signaling a strategic pivot to manage internal political pressures rather than project unity.
The decision comes as President Trump arrives in Ankara for the current NATO summit, a visit overshadowed by heightened tensions regarding the fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran.
The US leader has continued to publicly criticize the alliance, creating an environment where high-profile summits risk becoming arenas for confrontation rather than cooperation.
By skipping the 2027 event, NATO officials hope to minimize opportunities for such public disputes.
A key factor in the deliberation is the identity of the 2027 host, which is one of the alliance’s lowest defense spenders.