BRUSSLES: US President Donald Trump is in Brussels for what his team is describing as “tough” talks with other members of the Nato military alliance.
Mr Trump is now meeting EU leaders. He has been critical of both blocs.
Nato has agreed to Mr Trump’s request to join the US-led coalition against so-called Islamic State. The US president may also press members to pay their full financial share.
European leaders will seek assurances of Mr Trump’s commitment to US allies.
European Council President Donald Tusk tweeted: “I’ll aim to convince POTUS [President of the US] that euro-atlanticism means the free world co-operating to prevent post-West world order.”
After landing in Brussels on Wednesday, Mr Trump met the Belgian king and queen while thousands demonstrated against his presence in the centre of the city.
Earlier, he was granted a short private audience with the Pope at the Vatican.
The Nato gathering will see the alliance agree to a US plan for Nato to take a bigger role in the fight against Islamist militants, particularly jihadist group Islamic State (IS) – but France and Germany insist the move is symbolic.
Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said: “Today we will decide to expand our support to the coalition with more AWACS [Airborne Warning and Control System] flight time, more information sharing and air-to-air refuelling.
“This will send a strong political message of Nato’s commitment to the fight against terrorism and also improve our coordination within the coalition but it does not mean that Nato will engage in combat operations.”