US does not want Ukraine at the NATO summit

These efforts reflect the White House's desire to view NATO exclusively as a Euro-Atlantic defense pact and to roll back decades of expansion of its role in crisis management, global partnerships, and initiatives, Politico reports.

The US is pressuring its allies not to invite Ukraine and the Alliance's four official Indo-Pacific partners — Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and South Korea — to official meetings during the July summit in Ankara.

These countries may still be invited to side events. This is partly justified by the desire to reduce the number of meetings within the summit.

An unnamed NATO official said the alliance would subsequently announce the partners' participation in the summit.

NATO officials have proposed canceling this year's public forum, a side event that usually brings together heads of state, defense experts, and government officials for panel discussions and raises the profile of the annual summit.

“This year, NATO has decided not to organize a public forum, but will hold a NATO Defense Industry Forum on the sidelines of the summit in Ankara,” the source said.

NATO civilian officials explained to capitals that the move was aimed at reducing costs amid a shortage of resources.

The decision may also have been indirectly influenced by pressure from the US as part of Washington's broader campaign to cut funding for international organizations.

Another diplomat emphasized that at a time when the Alliance is trying to convince the general public of the appropriateness of its activities and the increase in defense spending, this is very harmful.

“NATO must communicate what is happening — and what it is going to do,” he said.

Photo: Ministry of Defense.