NATO Summit in Albania Ruled Out for 2027 Says PM Edi Rama

NATO will not hold its next NATO summit in Albania in 2027, Prime Minister Edi Rama said on Thursday, November 12.

Albania had earlier been expected to host the meeting after the alliance's 2026 summit in Türkiye. However, uncertainty over the next gathering has grown as NATO members have yet to agree on when it should take place.

Speaking to reporters in Dublin, Ireland, Rama said there was no agreement among NATO members on the timing of the next summit.

He ruled out 2027 as a possible date but said Albania could host the meeting in 2028 if the alliance decides to hold one that year. The announcement leaves the schedule for NATO's next gathering uncertain.

• NATO Rules Out Albania as Host for 2027 Summit, Edi Rama Says
• Albania Could Host Next NATO Summit in 2028 as 2027 Plan Is Dropped
• NATO Members Yet to Confirm Date for Next Summit After Türkiye Meeting

NATO Members Yet to Decide on Next Summit

Rama said Albania was still ready to host the next NATO summit, but the alliance had not reached a final decision on the date. He added that the country would be prepared to welcome leaders whenever the meeting was scheduled.

A NATO official also confirmed that Albania remained the expected host, although the date had not been finalised. This means the country could still organise the next gathering, even though the earlier plan for 2027 is no longer expected to go ahead.

NATO summits bring together leaders from the alliance's 32 member countries to discuss defence cooperation, military priorities and international security issues. These meetings also give members an opportunity to review their commitments and agree on common positions on major global developments.

At the June 2025 summit in The Hague, NATO leaders said they looked forward to meeting in Türkiye in 2026, followed by Albania. However, the declaration issued after the alliance's summit in Ankara in July 2026 did not mention a date or location for the next meeting.

The absence of a confirmed schedule has raised questions about when leaders will meet again. Diplomats have also indicated that NATO could organise another summit at short notice in 2026, although it would not be held in Tirana.

Defence Spending Adds to Uncertainty

The delay comes amid ongoing discussions about defence spending among NATO members. Earlier reports in June suggested that Albania's plans to host the 2027 summit had faced resistance from the administration of US President Donald Trump. Some members had reportedly expressed concerns about Albania's relatively low defence spending.

Defence investment has become a major issue within the alliance. NATO has been encouraging its members to spend more on their military capabilities and strengthen their ability to respond to security threats. Differences over how much each country should contribute have also led to discussions about sharing the responsibility for collective defence.

The alliance is also working to maintain unity among its members as the war in Ukraine and other security concerns continue to shape its priorities. Disagreements over defence commitments have added to the challenges facing the organisation.

For Albania, hosting a NATO summit would be an important opportunity to strengthen its position within the alliance and highlight its role in European security. The country joined NATO in 2009 and has continued to build its involvement in regional and international security matters.

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Despite the change in schedule, Albania remains in line to host the next summit. Rama's comments suggest that 2028 could be an option, depending on the decision of NATO members. The alliance has yet to announce an official date for its next gathering.