Trump's Shadow Looms: NATO Considers Stopping Annual Summits
NATO is considering ending its recent practice of annual summits to avoid potential tensions during the final year of U.S. President Trump's term and to focus on long-term planning.
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- 📰 Published: April 28, 2026 at 03:46
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WASHINGTON/BRUSSELS (Reuters) – NATO is considering terminating its practice of holding annual summits in recent years, a move that could avoid tense interactions during the final year of U.S. President Donald Trump's term, according to six sources cited by Reuters.
NATO has 32 member states. Reports say the Trump administration has repeatedly and harshly criticized many of them, most recently rebuking some allies for failing to further assist U.S. military operations against Iran.
Summit frequencies have varied throughout NATO's 77-year history, but leaders have met annually in the summer since 2021. This year's meeting will take place on July 7 and 8 in Ankara, Turkey.
However, a senior European official and five diplomats from NATO member countries told Reuters that some members are pushing to slow the pace.
### NATO Members Seek to Lower Drama and Improve Decision Quality
One diplomat stated that the 2027 summit scheduled for Albania will likely be delayed until autumn, and NATO is also considering whether to skip the 2028 summit entirely. 2028 is a U.S. presidential election year and Trump's last full year in office.
Another diplomat said some countries are pushing for biennial summits, adding that no decision has been made yet and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte will have the final say.
A NATO official responded to Reuters' inquiry, saying: 'NATO will continue to hold regular meetings of heads of state and government. NATO allies will continue to consult, plan, and make decisions on shared security matters between summits.'
Two sources mentioned Trump as a factor, but others pointed to broader considerations. Some diplomats and analysts have long argued that annual summits create pressure for eye-catching results, distracting from long-term planning.
'Better to have fewer summits than bad ones,' one diplomat said. Another added, 'The quality of discussions and decisions is the true measure of the alliance's strength.'
### Trump's Shadow Continues to Loom Over NATO
Phyllis Berry, a non-resident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, wrote: 'Reducing high-profile summits would help NATO focus on its business and reduce the drama seen in many transatlantic interactions in recent years.'
She noted in an article last week that NATO held only eight summits during the Cold War. She described the first three NATO summits of Trump's first term as 'controversial, primarily due to his complaints about allies' low defense spending.'
This year's summit also appears set to be fraught with tension. The U.S. did not consult allies before launching military actions against Iran. After allies refused to provide the support Trump demanded, he publicly questioned whether the U.S. should honor NATO's mutual defense clause and even stated he was considering withdrawing from NATO. He also expressed interest in purchasing Greenland, a Danish autonomous territory, months ago.
NATO has 32 member states. Reports say the Trump administration has repeatedly and harshly criticized many of them, most recently rebuking some allies for failing to further assist U.S. military operations against Iran.
Summit frequencies have varied throughout NATO's 77-year history, but leaders have met annually in the summer since 2021. This year's meeting will take place on July 7 and 8 in Ankara, Turkey.
However, a senior European official and five diplomats from NATO member countries told Reuters that some members are pushing to slow the pace.
### NATO Members Seek to Lower Drama and Improve Decision Quality
One diplomat stated that the 2027 summit scheduled for Albania will likely be delayed until autumn, and NATO is also considering whether to skip the 2028 summit entirely. 2028 is a U.S. presidential election year and Trump's last full year in office.
Another diplomat said some countries are pushing for biennial summits, adding that no decision has been made yet and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte will have the final say.
A NATO official responded to Reuters' inquiry, saying: 'NATO will continue to hold regular meetings of heads of state and government. NATO allies will continue to consult, plan, and make decisions on shared security matters between summits.'
Two sources mentioned Trump as a factor, but others pointed to broader considerations. Some diplomats and analysts have long argued that annual summits create pressure for eye-catching results, distracting from long-term planning.
'Better to have fewer summits than bad ones,' one diplomat said. Another added, 'The quality of discussions and decisions is the true measure of the alliance's strength.'
### Trump's Shadow Continues to Loom Over NATO
Phyllis Berry, a non-resident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, wrote: 'Reducing high-profile summits would help NATO focus on its business and reduce the drama seen in many transatlantic interactions in recent years.'
She noted in an article last week that NATO held only eight summits during the Cold War. She described the first three NATO summits of Trump's first term as 'controversial, primarily due to his complaints about allies' low defense spending.'
This year's summit also appears set to be fraught with tension. The U.S. did not consult allies before launching military actions against Iran. After allies refused to provide the support Trump demanded, he publicly questioned whether the U.S. should honor NATO's mutual defense clause and even stated he was considering withdrawing from NATO. He also expressed interest in purchasing Greenland, a Danish autonomous territory, months ago.