NATO summit in Albania faces uncertainty over US stance and defence spending

NATO leaders are preparing for a summit in Turkey in early July, while the alliance’s next meeting slated for Albania in 2027 is under scrutiny. A draft statement for the Ankara summit omitted any reference to the Albanian venue, reflecting resistance from the Trump administration and concerns over Albania’s low defence spending. European NATO members are seeking to demonstrate progress on defence‑budget pledges to avoid a direct clash with the United States.

Albania says it will adopt fiscal measures to raise its 2026 defence and defence‑related expenditures to 2.6% of GDP, aiming to meet NATO’s agreed trajectory. Meanwhile, the United States is advancing its “NATO 3.0” agenda, which envisions reduced U.S. forward‑defence commitments in Europe and greater European military responsibility. Recent U.S. actions—including troop withdrawals from Germany, cutting a planned precision‑strike battalion, and public criticism of European allies—have strained transatlantic unity and fueled doubts about the feasibility of an Albanian summit.