NATO Ministers Meet Amid French Concerns

World

November 20th, 11:01am

Asharq Al-Awsat

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg gestures as he answers a question during a news conference at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2019. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

NATO foreign ministers are gathering in Brussels to prepare a leaders´ summit in two weeks amid tensions over French President Emmanuel Macron´s complaints about the "brain death" of the alliance. France says it´s concerned about a lack of US leadership at NATO, the unpredictability of Turkey after its invasion of northern Syria and the need for Europe to take on more security responsibilities. Wednesday´s meeting at NATO headquarters is aimed at finalizing the "summit deliverables;" the results will be announced at the Dec. 3-4 leaders´ gathering near London. The ministers will endorse a confidential report laying out NATO´s new policy toward China. They will announce space as the "fifth domain" of security, following land, sea, air, and cyberspace. Testy ties with Russia and counter-terrorism efforts are also on the agenda.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2000341/nato-ministers-meet-amid-french-concerns