Next NATO summit in Albania faces uncertainty amid U.S. reluctance, domestic unrest

Plans for NATO’s next summit in Albania are in doubt as the Trump administration shows reluctance and alliance members express dissatisfaction with Tirana’s defence spending levels, sources familiar with the discussions told Reuters. A draft statement for this week’s NATO summit in Ankara omits any reference to the planned 2027 gathering in Albania, despite an earlier commitment.

European NATO allies are focusing on demonstrating progress toward higher defence spending targets ahead of meetings with President Donald Trump, aiming to avoid friction. Albania’s low contributions have raised particular concerns, with one source noting that hosting Trump in a country falling short on pledges could generate negative headlines.

Banking on Trump family business

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama appears to be banking on the high-profile Trump family business ties – particularly a controversial luxury resort project linked to Jared Kushner – as leverage to strengthen relations with the U.S. administration. The multi-billion-dollar development on the Sazan Island and Zvërnec coastline, involving protected wetlands home to flamingos and other wildlife, has instead triggered Albania’s largest sustained protests since the fall of communism, dubbed the “Flamingo Revolution.” Demonstrations began in late May 2026 and have continued for over a month, with thousands marching nightly in Tirana under slogans like “Albania is not for sale,” demanding transparency, environmental protection, and Rama’s resignation.

Albania’s “Flamingo revolution”: will Rama’s Kushner-backed resort deal cost him his premiership?

The Albanian government stated it is finalising fiscal measures to reach 2.6% of GDP on defence and related spending in 2026 (2.2% core defence), aligning with NATO trajectories agreed at last year’s Hague summit. However, critics argue the Kushner-linked project highlights governance issues and environmental risks, complicating Rama’s efforts to position Albania as a reliable NATO partner.

NATO leaders at the 2025 Hague summit had explicitly looked forward to meetings in Turkey in 2026 and Albania thereafter. Recent drafts now refer only vaguely to a future gathering, reflecting broader alliance discussions about possibly scaling back annual summits to manage tensions with the U.S.

An Albanian government spokesperson described the draft as non-final and subject to change. The White House and NATO had no immediate comment. A European diplomat suggested Albania could still host if spending ramps up sufficiently.

The Flamingo protests have broadened beyond the resort – which Rama defends as an economic boon – into wider calls for accountability, testing Rama’s strategy of using the Trump connection to navigate alliance politics while facing domestic backlash.

With Reuters

Caption: A demonstrator dressed in a flamingo costume participates in a protest against a coastal resort project linked to Jared Kushner, son-in-law of US President Donald Trump, in Tirana, Albania, 20 June 2026. The project faced public opposition over environmental concerns and land-ownership questions. EPA/MALTON DIBRA