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Nato summit: Obama expects UK to continue Europe security role Nato summit: Obama expects UK to continue Europe security role
(35 minutes later)
The UK will remain a major contributor to European security, Barack Obama has said, as Nato and EU nations signed a deal focusing on the perceived threat from Russia.The UK will remain a major contributor to European security, Barack Obama has said, as Nato and EU nations signed a deal focusing on the perceived threat from Russia.
The agreement signed in Warsaw includes an 1,000 extra US troops to be sent to Poland to reinforce Nato's eastern flank.
Mr Obama added he hoped for an "orderly" UK transition from the EU.Mr Obama added he hoped for an "orderly" UK transition from the EU.
But he said Brexit did not signal the end of EU security co-operation. The agreement signed in Warsaw includes 1,000 extra US troops to be sent to Poland to reinforce Nato's eastern flank.
Nato is sending four battalions to the region with troops from four nations.Nato is sending four battalions to the region with troops from four nations.
"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. Profile: Nato
However, the meeting has been overshadowed by the UK's vote to leave the EU.
"I have no doubt that the UK will remain one of Nato's most capable members," Mr Obama told the Financial Times.
"Everybody has an interest in minimising any disruptions as the UK and the EU forge a new relationship," he added."Everybody has an interest in minimising any disruptions as the UK and the EU forge a new relationship," he added.
'Historic' deal
Donald Tusk said that sometimes it appeared that the EU and Nato were on "two different planets", and it made sense to work more closely together.
"At stake is real life," he said. "Our critical infrastructure could be attacked, our banking system could be hacked or our citizens could be exposed to disinformation campaigns via social networks."
The meeting has been overshadowed by the UK's vote to leave the EU.
Nato will agree on Friday to bolster the Western military alliance's defences next year with four multinational battalions in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland made up of some 3,000 troops from the UK, US, Germany, and Canada. Nato members made the decision after Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014.
A 500-strong UK battalion will be deployed to Estonia and 150 UK troops will be based in Poland. UK Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said the aim was to "deter Russia from any further aggression".
In 2017, the UK will also take over the running of a standby Nato force, with 3,000 troops based in the UK and Germany.
"Nato does not seek confrontation," Mr Stoltenberg said in an address on Friday, vowing continued dialogue with Russia. "We don't want a new Cold War. The Cold War is history and it should remain history."
However, Russia's ambassador to Nato, Alexander Grushko, warned of a risk of a "spiral of confrontation", by building a "new Iron Curtain". Mr Grushko told the BBC that the decision would lead to "military consequences".
Nato looks east - by BBC defence correspondent Jonathan MarcusNato 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.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.
Read more: Nato looks east (and south)Read more: Nato looks east (and south)
UK troops head for Poland and EstoniaUK troops head for Poland and Estonia
'Hybrid threats'
The EU and Nato joint declaration pledges to accelerate co-operation in the face of so-called "hybrid threats", which include propaganda and psychological campaigns, cyber-attacks, and use of political, economic and energy pressure.
Nato members made the decision after Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014.
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.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.
'Disinformation campaigns' "Nato does not seek confrontation," Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg said, vowing continued dialogue with Russia. "We don't want a new Cold War. The Cold War is history and it should remain history."
The EU and Nato signed a joint declaration on Friday agreeing to "accelerated practical co-operation" in the face of so-called hybrid threats as well as in maritime and cyber security and joint exercises. However, Russia's ambassador to Nato, Alexander Grushko, warned of a risk of a "spiral of confrontation", by building a "new Iron Curtain". Mr Grushko told the BBC that the decision would lead to "military consequences".
In words echoed by Mr Stoltenberg in Warsaw, President Obama wrote in his FT article 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. Mr Stoltenberg added that the deal would also help contain the massive influx of migrants to Europe.
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier last month urged Nato not to inflame tensions by "creating pretexts" and "sabre-rattling and warmongering". President of the European Council Donald Tusk said the EU and Nato sometimes appeared to be on "two different planets" and it made sense to work more closely together.
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. "At stake is real life," he said. "Our critical infrastructure could be attacked, our banking system could be hacked or our citizens could be exposed to disinformation campaigns via social networks."
Under the deal four multinational battalions will be stationed in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland made up of some 3,000 troops from the UK, US, Germany and Canada.
A 500-strong UK battalion will be deployed to Estonia and 150 UK troops will be based in Poland.
In 2017, the UK will also take over the running of a standby Nato force, with 3,000 troops based in the UK and Germany.
Poland rebuked
As the deal was announced, Mr Obama also expressed concern about the state of democracy in Poland, where the new right-wing government is locked in a dispute with the country's top court and has taken steps to exercise direct control over state media.
Mr Obama said he had made his concerns clear to Polish President Andrzej Duda in a one-on-one meeting.
The dispute concerns appointments to the constitutional court, as well as the rules governing how it functions. Poland's new leaders say they are trying to correct an imbalance because appointments by the previous centrist government dominate the court.
The move has led to street protests and the EU has launched an investigation into whether the Polish government is violating the rule of law.