President Barack Obama will have the G8 summit separated from the NATO summit this year, with different periods of time and sites for the important annual gatherings, the White House said on Monday.

"To facilitate a free-flowing discussion with our close G8 partners, the president is inviting his fellow G8 leaders to Camp David on May 18-19 for the G8 Summit, which will address a broad range of economic, political and security issues," the White House said in a statement.

After that, Obama will welcome NATO leaders to his hometown of Chicago for the NATO summit on May 20-21, the White House said, calling it a "premier opportunity" for the president to continue his efforts to strengthen NATO to ensure that the military alliance remains the most successful one in history.

The NATO summit will chart the way forward in Afghanistan, where a NATO-led mission has entered its 11th year, the White House said.

The G8 summit usually draws protesters against globalization, while Camp David, a presidential retreat in Maryland state, may protect the summiteers from distraction.