Waiting For Trump

NATO's Warsaw summit in July announced that there will be a summit of allied leaders in Brussels in 2017 and after the election of Donald Trump, NATO and the EU both invited him to meet them after he becomes president in January.

If Hillary Clinton had won the election, the summit would have taken place as soon as possible in the New Year, but Trump's victory means the date and even exact location in Brussels of the summit has not been determined.

In his press conference Dec. 5 previewing the NATO foreign ministers meeting in Brussels Dec. 6-7, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said allies are discussing the summit agenda and date, so it is too early to give details on either. But he added that the important thing is that there will be a summit, especially in times of uncertainty and the more unpredictable security environment, repeating that he looked forward to meeting the new US president.

One of the issues NATO will discuss with Trump is Afghanistan. Stoltenberg cited reports that the President-elect had expressed his commitment to Afghanistan and continuing support during a phone call with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.

It is beginning to emerge that the NATO and EU summits with Trump will be held back-to-back, with even the possibility of a joint dinner to discuss issues of common concern. In the meantime, NATO foreign ministers will discuss cooperation with the EU in seven areas: countering hybrid threats, operational cooperation including at sea, cyber security and defense, defense capabilities, defense industrial cooperation, exercises, and building the defense capabilities of eastern and southern partners.

Stoltenberg said NATO would continue to be in contact with the Trump transition team but that final decision on the summit would be made after the new administration is in place.