NATO cuts meetings due to disagreements over Ukraine, AP reports.
NATO is reducing the number of meetings of allied leaders and ministers amid internal disagreements over defense funding, the conflict in Ukraine and Iran, while a previously planned summit in Albania in 2027 will not take place, the Associated Press reports, citing an interview with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and representatives of allied nations.
For about 15 years, NATO leadership conferences have been held almost every year, although in the past the alliance usually gathered heads of state and government every two years.
After the Ankara summit in 2026, the next meeting in Albania in 2027 was in doubt, but now Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has confirmed that the summit will definitely not take place next year.
However, Tirana still expects to host it in 2028. At the same time, as AP points out, the reduction of yeshiva now affects the ministerial level, which indicates a broader review of the alliance's calendar of events.
According to AP, the reduction will affect not only summits, but also meetings of defense and foreign ministers. Therefore, the defense ministers did not meet in October this year, and a similar meeting is not planned for October 2027.
NATO foreign ministers will hold just one scheduled meeting next year instead of two. The alliance explains the changes as "a package of restructuring measures".