NATO leaders at their summit in Lisbon will hear that security in Afghanistan will be progressively handed over to local forces, with the aim of withdrawing foreign troops by 2014.
The alliance hopes to move to a training and support role over the next few years, although there are fears that a worsening security situation could push back any withdrawal date.
Afghanistan will dominate this two-day summit, but there will also be talks between the Americans and the European Union, as Euronews’ correspondent Miguel Sardo reports:
“21 of the 27 EU countries are NATO members, and all are here in Lisbon. But Washington wants to strengthen its links across the EU, and talks on energy policy have already taken place ahead of the main summit.”
As well as the EU talks, President Obama will meet Russia’s President Medvedev. The Kremlin said he will lay out Moscow’s vision of a shared anti-missile system to put an end to years of NATO/Russia mistrust.
Links:
http://www.euronews.net/
http://www.nato.int/strategic-concep...c-concept.html
http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/events_66529.htm
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