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| Nato summit: Leaders to focus on Afghanistan conflict | Nato summit: Leaders to focus on Afghanistan conflict |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Nato leaders plan to turn their attentions to the conflict in Afghanistan, on the second day of a summit so far dominated by demands from President Donald Trump. | Nato leaders plan to turn their attentions to the conflict in Afghanistan, on the second day of a summit so far dominated by demands from President Donald Trump. |
| Mr Trump on Wednesday urged Nato allies to commit 4% of their annual output (GDP) to military spending. | Mr Trump on Wednesday urged Nato allies to commit 4% of their annual output (GDP) to military spending. |
| He also singled out Germany for criticism over its defence spending. | He also singled out Germany for criticism over its defence spending. |
| Nato leaders are hoping for a more conciliatory tone on Thursday before Mr Trump leaves for the UK. | Nato leaders are hoping for a more conciliatory tone on Thursday before Mr Trump leaves for the UK. |
| But in a late-night tweet from Brussels, the US president reiterated his criticism. | |
| "Billions of additional dollars are being spent by NATO countries since my visit last year, at my request, but it isn't nearly enough," he declared. | "Billions of additional dollars are being spent by NATO countries since my visit last year, at my request, but it isn't nearly enough," he declared. |
| He earlier accused Germany of being held prisoner to imported Russian energy, claiming it is "totally controlled" by Moscow. | He earlier accused Germany of being held prisoner to imported Russian energy, claiming it is "totally controlled" by Moscow. |
| EU figures suggest Russia is responsible for between 50% and 75% of Germany's gas imports, but gas makes up less than 20% of Germany's energy mix for power production. | EU figures suggest Russia is responsible for between 50% and 75% of Germany's gas imports, but gas makes up less than 20% of Germany's energy mix for power production. |
| What's the plan for Afghanistan? | What's the plan for Afghanistan? |
| Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani will be present for the second day of talks, and Nato's Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg hopes the bloc will agree to fund Afghan security forces until 2024. | Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani will be present for the second day of talks, and Nato's Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg hopes the bloc will agree to fund Afghan security forces until 2024. |
| Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May has already confirmed that the UK will send 440 more troops to serve in non-combat roles in Afghanistan. | Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May has already confirmed that the UK will send 440 more troops to serve in non-combat roles in Afghanistan. |
| The US also committed an extra 3,000 troops to support Afghan forces in September 2017 - bringing its total to 15,000. | The US also committed an extra 3,000 troops to support Afghan forces in September 2017 - bringing its total to 15,000. |
| US officials have said Washington is planning a strategic review, a year after Mr Trump agreed to remain involved in the 17-year conflict. | |
| What else is on the agenda? | What else is on the agenda? |
| Nato leaders will discuss the alliance's ties with Georgia and Ukraine. Both countries want to join Nato, but their bids are not expected to make progress. | Nato leaders will discuss the alliance's ties with Georgia and Ukraine. Both countries want to join Nato, but their bids are not expected to make progress. |
| That is because Russia has engaged in territorial incursions into both states, and Nato rules prevent countries with a land conflict from joining. | That is because Russia has engaged in territorial incursions into both states, and Nato rules prevent countries with a land conflict from joining. |
| By contrast, a ceremony will be held for Macedonia after it was invited to begin accession talks on Wednesday. | By contrast, a ceremony will be held for Macedonia after it was invited to begin accession talks on Wednesday. |
| Where does Trump go next? | Where does Trump go next? |
| When the Brussels summit winds up, Mr Trump will arrive in the UK on Thursday for a two-day working visit. | When the Brussels summit winds up, Mr Trump will arrive in the UK on Thursday for a two-day working visit. |
| Mr Trump is the 12th sitting US president to make such a trip, and will spend time with the Queen and prime minister before flying to Scotland to spend the weekend at his golf resort. | Mr Trump is the 12th sitting US president to make such a trip, and will spend time with the Queen and prime minister before flying to Scotland to spend the weekend at his golf resort. |
| Thousands of people are expected to protest against his visit across the UK. | Thousands of people are expected to protest against his visit across the UK. |
| Mr Trump is due to hold his first summit with Vladimir Putin, in Helsinki, on 16 July. | Mr Trump is due to hold his first summit with Vladimir Putin, in Helsinki, on 16 July. |
| He shocked some by quipping that the Nato gathering might prove tougher than next Monday's summit with Mr Putin. | He shocked some by quipping that the Nato gathering might prove tougher than next Monday's summit with Mr Putin. |