Trump Nato: Leaders to tackle Afghanistan conflict - BBC News

July 12, 2018

Trump Nato: Leaders to tackle Afghanistan conflict

Canada's Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland (C) and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (3R) are at the summit
Nato leaders plan to turn their attention to the conflict in Afghanistan, on the second day of a Brussels summit so far dominated by demands from President Donald Trump.

Taliban militants reportedly killed up to 30 soldiers in attacks on Afghan army posts on Thursday.

Mr Trump has urged Nato allies to commit at least 4% of their annual output (GDP) to military spending.

Nato states are currently working towards a target of 2%.

The US leader also singled out Germany for criticism over its defence spending.

Nato leaders are hoping for a more conciliatory tone from Mr Trump on Thursday.

But in early-morning tweets from Brussels, the US president resumed his criticism.

Donald J. Trump
✔
@realDonaldTrump
 Presidents have been trying unsuccessfully for years to get Germany and other rich NATO Nations to pay more toward their protection from Russia. They pay only a fraction of their cost. The U.S. pays tens of Billions of Dollars too much to subsidize Europe, and loses Big on Trade!

4:03 PM - Jul 12, 2018

Donald J. Trump
✔
@realDonaldTrump
 ....On top of it all, Germany just started paying Russia, the country they want protection from, Billions of Dollars for their Energy needs coming out of a new pipeline from Russia. Not acceptable! All NATO Nations must meet their 2% commitment, and that must ultimately go to 4%!

4:12 PM - Jul 12, 2018

He earlier accused Germany of being held prisoner to imported Russian energy, saying 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.

How much of Germany's gas comes from Russia?
What does the US contribute to Nato?
Can Nato survive President Donald Trump?
President Trump's next stop after Belgium is the UK, where he will arrive early afternoon to begin a two-day working visit, which is expected to spark public protests.

Media captionTrump baby blimp ready to take first steps
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.

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.

Image copyrightEPA
Image caption
The Taliban and Afghan forces held a brief ceasefire during Eid celebrations in June
US officials have said Washington is planning a strategic review, a year after Mr Trump agreed to remain involved in the 17-year conflict.

The US-led invasion drove the hardline Taliban from power in 2001, as part of a crackdown on Islamist militants after the 9/11 attacks in the US.

Thousands of Nato troops were deployed and a long, bloody conflict followed as the ousted militants fought back.

In 2014, Nato formally ended the combat mission, handing over to Afghan forces, whom it had trained.

Since then, the Taliban have made substantial territorial gains across the country. A BBC study from January found the group is openly active in 70% of Afghanistan, and controls or threatens more territory than before the foreign troops left.

Taliban 'threaten 70% of Afghanistan'
The cost of Trump's air war in Afghanistan
On Thursday, officials in Afghanistan said the Taliban had launched an attack on a number of army posts in the northern province of Kunduz.

Earlier, dozens of Islamic religious scholars met in Saudi Arabia to discuss Afghanistan's war and called on the Taliban to renounce violence.

Is Nato still expanding?
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.


Media captionTrump tells Nato chief that Germany is "totally controlled by Russia"
That is because Nato rules prevent countries with a border conflict from joining and both countries have disputes with Russia.

By contrast, a ceremony will be held for Macedonia after it was invited to begin accession talks on Wednesday.

Macedonia: The country waiting for Nato's invitation
What will Trump do in the UK?
He 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.

Why Trump's UK visit will be unlike any other
Pomp and protest as Trump visit stokes UK culture war
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.