The US has urged its allies not to invite Ukraine and four Indo-Pacific partners to official meetings at NATO’s July summit in Turkey, Politico reported on Feb. 19, citing four diplomats.
According to the report, the countries to be excluded are Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and South Korea. They, along with Ukraine, could still be invited to parallel events, but not to the summit’s official meetings. Politico’s sources said the move is partly justified by efforts to reduce the number of formal sessions.
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Former NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu said that keeping partner countries on the periphery of the summit “will signal that the main focus is more on the alliance’s core issues.”
A NATO official, however, told Politico that the alliance “will communicate partners’ participation at the summit in due course.”
The report also said NATO staff proposed canceling the public forum traditionally held alongside the summit. The forum usually brings together political leaders, defense experts, and government officials for panel discussions aimed at raising the event’s public profile.
“NATO has decided not to organize a public forum this year, but will hold a NATO Defense Industry Forum as part of the summit in Ankara,” a NATO official said.
NATO officials told member capitals the changes are intended to cut costs amid resource constraints, Politico reported.
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The White House declined to comment publicly on NATO’s partnership programs and global operations when contacted by journalists.
The 2026 NATO summit is scheduled for July 7–8 in Ankara and will mark the alliance’s 36th leaders’ meeting.
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