Summit puzzle in NATO following Trump's remarks: Cancellation scenario on the table

While NATO has been discussing the roadmap the alliance will follow in the coming period during high-level meetings held in Ankara this week, there is uncertainty regarding whether the leaders' summit expected to be held in 2027 will take place. It has been stated that in closed-door meetings, skipping this gathering, which is traditionally organized every year, has been brought to the agenda as a serious option.

TRUMP'S REMARKS HAVE ESCALATED DISCUSSIONS

According to Bloomberg's report, at the root of these discussions lies US President Donald Trump's ongoing and occasionally hardening rhetoric toward the military alliance. Donald Trump's explicit statement that he came to Turkey solely because of his close relationship with AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and his use of expressions questioning the existence of NATO during his contacts in Ankara, have caused anxiety among member states. It has been learned that following Trump's outbursts, the cancellation of the summit planned for the following year is being discussed loudly within the alliance.

ALLIES ARE WORRIED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF A NEW CRISIS

Circles close to NATO diplomacy state that after the meetings in Ankara, concerns regarding the summit to be held in Albania this time are prevailing. According to information obtained from NATO sources, it is noted that the aim is to prevent Trump from criticizing allied countries in front of the international public and creating a new platform for crisis.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, who wants the summit to be held every year as is traditional, points to the increases in defense spending by member countries in order to persuade Donald Trump. However, no definitive assessment has been made as to whether this approach has softened Trump's stance so far.

ALBANIA'S DEFENSE BUDGET IS ALSO ON THE AGENDA

Political reasons are not the only factors behind the possibility of cancellation or postponement. The problems regarding the defense budget of Albania, which is preparing to host the summit, are also affecting the decision-making process. Albania is receiving criticism for struggling to comply with NATO's "at least 2 percent of GDP" principle and for being among the countries with the lowest defense spending within the alliance. This picture increases the possibility of Trump targeting allies more over this issue.

NO DETAILS REGARDING THE SUMMIT IN THE DRAFT DECLARATION

According to diplomatic contacts, it is noteworthy that the draft of the final declaration to be published at the end of the summit in Ankara does not include any information regarding a date or host country for the following year's meeting.

NATO military official Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, in his statement to Bloomberg TV, while confirming that the summit will take place in Albania, stated that whether the meeting will be held definitively in 2027 or at a later date is still a subject of debate.

THE CALENDAR FOR THE 2027 SUMMIT REMAINS UNCERTAIN

In this period when relations between the US and NATO are becoming increasingly complex, especially on the axis of military financing and political tensions, the uncertainty regarding the calendar of the summit to be held in the coming period is evaluated as an indicator of a strategic vulnerability in the alliance.

News Source: 12punto