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Nato summit: Obama expects UK to continue Europe security role Nato summit: Obama expects UK to continue Europe security role
(about 1 hour later)
President Barack Obama has said he expects the UK to remain a major contributor to European security and that it will be able to agree an "orderly transition" with the EU.President Barack Obama has said he expects the UK to remain a major contributor to European security and that it will be able to agree an "orderly transition" with the EU.
"I have no doubt that the UK will remain one of Nato's most capable members," he told the FT, as alliance leaders gather for a summit in Warsaw."I have no doubt that the UK will remain one of Nato's most capable members," he told the FT, as alliance leaders gather for a summit in Warsaw.
The summit will focus on the perceived threat from a resurgent Russia.The summit will focus on the perceived threat from a resurgent Russia.
But it has been overshadowed by the UK's vote to leave the EU.But it has been overshadowed by the UK's vote to leave the EU.
"Nato does not seek confrontation. We don't want a new Cold War. The Cold War is history and it should remain history," Nato Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said in an address on Friday, vowing continued dialogue with Russia."Nato does not seek confrontation. We don't want a new Cold War. The Cold War is history and it should remain history," Nato Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said in an address on Friday, vowing continued dialogue with Russia.
However, he said Nato would agree on Friday to bolster the Western military alliance's defences in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland.However, he said Nato would agree on Friday to bolster the Western military alliance's defences in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland.
Multinational battalions would be deployed in each country next year, to emphasise that an attack against one ally would be met by forces led by Canada, Germany, the UK and US, he said.
Nato looks east - by BBC defence correspondent Jonathan Marcus
Tensions between the Atlantic alliance and Moscow are growing again. Russia's seizure of the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine and the involvement of its troops in the fighting in eastern Ukraine has, in Nato's view, "torn up the rule-book" for the way security matters are dealt with in the post-Cold War world.
Nato looks east (and south)Nato looks east (and south)
UK troops head for Poland and EstoniaUK troops head for Poland and Estonia
Multinational battalions would be deployed in each country, to emphasise that an attack against one ally would be met by forces led by Canada, Germany, the UK and US, he said.
A 500-strong UK battalion will be deployed to Estonia and 150 troops will be based in Poland as part of the Nato response to concerns over Russia. UK Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said the aim was to "deter Russia from any further aggression".A 500-strong UK battalion will be deployed to Estonia and 150 troops will be based in Poland as part of the Nato response to concerns over Russia. UK Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said the aim was to "deter Russia from any further aggression".
Prime Minister David Cameron was later expected to underline the UK's commitment to Nato in the wake of the Brexit vote, with a commitment to meeting the alliance's target of spending 2% of GDP on defence.
The UK will also take over the running of a standby Nato force in 2017, with 3,000 troops based in the UK and Germany.
Russia's ambassador to Nato, Alexander Grushko, has warned of a risk of a "spiral of confrontation", by building a "new Iron Curtain".Russia's ambassador to Nato, Alexander Grushko, has warned of a risk of a "spiral of confrontation", by building a "new Iron Curtain".
Nato decided to station four new battalions on its eastern flank after Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014. Mr Grushko told the BBC that the decision would lead to "military consequences".Nato decided to station four new battalions on its eastern flank after Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014. Mr Grushko told the BBC that the decision would lead to "military consequences".
Writing in the Financial Times, President Obama said Nato and the EU should "deepen security co-operation" and agree that sanctions on Russia should remain in place until the Kremlin fully implemented the Minsk agreement on Ukraine. Writing in the Financial Times, President Obama said Nato and the EU should "deepen security co-operation" and agree that sanctions on Russia should remain in place until the Kremlin fully implemented the Minsk agreement on halting the fighting in eastern Ukraine.
Mr Obama was due to meet European Council President Donald Tusk and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker on Friday before the EU and Nato signed a joint declaration.Mr Obama was due to meet European Council President Donald Tusk and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker on Friday before the EU and Nato signed a joint declaration.
Although the Brexit vote raised significant questions about the future of European integration, he said he had no doubt the UK would "continue to be a major contributor to European security".Although the Brexit vote raised significant questions about the future of European integration, he said he had no doubt the UK would "continue to be a major contributor to European security".
In words echoed by Mr Stoltenberg in Warsaw, President Obama said that Article Five of the North Atlantic Treaty, in which an attack against one Nato member is considered as an attack against all, should be reaffirmed.In words echoed by Mr Stoltenberg in Warsaw, President Obama said that Article Five of the North Atlantic Treaty, in which an attack against one Nato member is considered as an attack against all, should be reaffirmed.
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier last month urged Nato not to inflame tensions by "creating pretexts" and "sabre-rattling and warmongering". However his remarks have been criticised by cabinet colleagues, and by ex-Defence Minister Franz Josef Jung, who pointed out that recent Russian military exercises were far larger than Nato's.