Afghanistan is expected to top the agenda at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s summit beginning Friday in Portugal’s capital, Lisbon.
Leaders from the 28-member Western military alliance are expected to discuss the future of NATO’s military effort in the South Asian country and handing over security to Afghan forces by 2014.
U.S. President Barack Obama is expected to outline a four-year withdrawal plan of 130,000 NATO troops, which is set to begin next year and will gradually hand over control to Afghan security forces.
A spokesman for the Pentagon, Geoff Morell, clarified Thursday that the dates are not rigid. He said the plan calls for the transition to wrap up by the end of 2014, which effectively means by 2015.
NATO forces are expected to continue training and humanitarian work for some time after that.
During the two-day summit, NATO leaders are expected to unveil a new strategic concept for the alliance, to include stronger defenses against cyber-terrorism and against ballistic missiles.
NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen calls the summit one of the most important in the history of the alliance. He said the key outcome will be a “more effective, engaged and efficient” alliance, capable of dealing with security concerns that have changed since NATO last revised its mission 11 years ago.
The new focus of the alliance was drafted by a group of experts led by former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.
Former Cold War rival Russia also has been invited to the summit in an effort to boost Moscow’s cooperation with the military alliance on issues including a new missile defense system in Europe and the Afghan war.
NATO leaders also will discuss building new partnerships with South Korea and Japan.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who has repeatedly criticized aspects of NATO’s mission tactics in his country, is scheduled to attend the summit discussion on Afghanistan Saturday.
Some information in this story was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
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