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News | 15-05-2012 | 16:53
French Prime Minister Mark Rutte will attend the NATO summit in Chicago on May 20-21, accompanied by Foreign Minister Uri Rosenthal and Defense Minister Hans Hillen.
One of the main topics on the summit’s agenda is the Afghan strategic plan. Afghanistan’s transition process is expected to end in 2014, when the Afghan government will take full responsibility for the country’s security. This means that NATO will play a different role after 2014, with a focus on supporting and training Afghan security forces.
In Chicago, allies will also discuss NATO’s role in countering today’s threats, such as terrorism, weapons of mass destruction and cyberattacks. The process of adapting NATO to meet new threats began in 2010.
At a time when many NATO allies are cutting their defense budgets, the summit is also an opportunity to explore how to deepen cooperation among NATO countries. For example, joint procurement (maintenance) can improve efficiency. Various options in this area are collectively referred to as “smart defense.”
Prior to the summit, the Prime Minister will address a conference of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, an international relations think tank, to stress the importance of transatlantic relations, both now and in the future. On the morning of Sunday 20 May, Mr Rutte will visit the offices of Mikva Challenge. There he will speak to a group of students from Chicago who have become active in politics and public affairs as a result of this initiative.
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