Donald Trump set to return to London for Nato meeting
Donald Trump looks set to visit London for the second time as US President later this year.
Trump will likely be one of the Nato leaders to descend on the capital in December as the alliance celebrates its 70th year.
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Nato secretary general Jens Stoltenberg said: I am pleased to announce that allies have agreed that the next meeting of Nato heads of state and government will take place in London in December 2019.”
Military and civilian leaders will talk about current and future security challenges, and how Nato can best adapt to keep its population safe, the former Norwegian Prime Minister said this morning.
“London was the home of Nato’s first headquarters. The United Kingdom was one of the alliance’s 12 founding members and continues to play a key role in the alliance, making essential contributions to our shared security,” he added.
The White House has not yet confirmed his attendance, but as the leader of the alliance’s biggest member, Trump will likely show up.
However, unlike his predecessors, the President has in the past shunned major international events. Earlier this year he did not turn up to the World Economic Forum in Davos amid an ongoing government shutdown in the US.
Police said last year they had spent £18m – or four times the cost of the royal wedding – policing protests and other security during Trump's July visit.
Almost 2m people signed a petition against Trump's last visit, while hundreds of thousands took to the street to protest when he was in the capital.
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During a Nato meeting in July Trump accused Germany of being “a captive of Russia,” and insisted other members increase their defence spending.
At the time Stoltenberg said Nato has a history of disagreements which it has been able to overcome.