NATO statement leaves unanswered whether the next Summit will be held in Albania or not

2026-07-08 15:21:49Kosova&Bota SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX

NATO leaders have adopted the Final Declaration of the Ankara Summit, which reaffirms the Alliance's commitment to collective defense, increased military investment, and long-term support for Ukraine, but does not mention Albania as the host country of the next summit.

In the document adopted on Wednesday, the allies emphasize that they remain united in the face of threats to Euro-Atlantic security and confirm their commitment to implementing new defense objectives.

The statement states that European NATO countries and Canada have increased defense investments by over $139 billion by 2025, while over $50 billion in new contracts for military procurement and expansion of defense industry capacities were announced at the Ankara Summit.

The allies also pledge to continue their support for Ukraine, pledging 70 billion euros in military assistance, equipment and training through 2026, and to maintain at least the same level of support in 2027.

The statement also emphasizes that Iran should never possess nuclear weapons, while calling on Tehran to respect freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

However, unlike previous summits, the document does not specify the location where the next NATO meeting will take place.

The statement ends with just the sentence: "We express our gratitude for Turkey's generous hospitality. We look forward to our next meeting."

There is no reference to Albania in the text, even though the Hague Declaration envisaged Tirana as the host country after Turkey.

The lack of this reference comes at a time when the Alliance is discussing the possibility of returning to holding summits every two years.

Earlier, the chairman of the NATO Military Committee, Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, told Bloomberg that Albania remains the planned location for the next summit, but that it has not yet been decided whether it will take place in 2027 or be postponed to a later year.


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