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文章出处：http://www.dailynews.lk/line/bbc

Nato summit: Leaders to focus on Afghanistan conflict
Thursday, July 12, 2018 - 11:50

摘要：
北约峰会聚焦阿富汗冲突问题，特朗普要求盟约各国将年财政支出中至少4%投入军事领域，并谴责德国过低的国防支出以及其对从俄国进口天然气的“过度依赖”。
阿富汗方面，阿富汗总统将于次日出席峰会。北约秘书长希望北约联盟集团（the bloc？）同意为阿富汗安全部队提供直至2024年的资金支持。英国首相特蕾莎·梅声明将增派440名士兵赴阿富汗执行非战斗任务。2017年9月美国承诺增派3000名士兵，使部队总人数达到15000人。
格鲁吉亚与乌克兰申请加入北约却因为与俄罗斯处在领土冲突中未果；相反，马其顿将在下周三被邀请参会。
特朗普将赴英国进行为期两天的工作访问，随后前往他在苏格兰的高尔夫庄园度假。7月16日特朗普将与普京进行首次峰会，并打趣“北约会议或许比与普京的会谈更加艰难。”

Nato leaders plan to turn their attention to the conflict in Afghanistan, on the second day of a summit so far dominated by demands from President Donald Trump.

Trump on Wednesday urged Nato allies to commit 4% of their annual output (GDP) to military spending.

He also singled out Germany for criticism over its defense spending.

Nato leaders are hoping for a more conciliatory tone on Thursday before Trump leaves for the UK.

But in a late-night tweet from Brussels, the US president reiterated his criticism.

"Billions of additional dollars are being spent by NATO countries since my visit last year, at my request, but it isn't nearly enough," he declared.

He earlier accused Germany of being held prisoner to imported energy Russian energy, claiming it is "totally controlled" by Moscow.

EU figures suggest Russia is responsible for between 50% and 75% of Germany's gas imports, but gas makes up less than 20% of Germany's energy mix for power production.

What's the plan for Afghanistan?

Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani will be present for the second day of talks, and Nato's Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg hopes the bloc will agree to fund Afghan security forces until 2024.

Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May has already confirmed that the UK will send 440 more troops to serve in non-combat roles in Afghanistan.

The US also committed an extra 3,000 troops to support Afghan forces in September 2017 - bringing its total to 15,000.

US officials have said Washington is planning a strategic review, a year after Trump agreed to remain involved in the 17-year conflict.

What else is on the agenda?

Nato leaders will discuss the alliance's ties with Georgia and Ukraine. Both countries want to join Nato, but their bids are not expected to make progress.

That is because Russia has engaged in territorial incursions into both states, and Nato rules prevent countries with a land conflict from joining.

By contrast, a ceremony will be held for Macedonia after it was invited to begin accession talks on Wednesday.

Where does Trump go next?

When the Brussels summit winds up, Trump will arrive in the UK on Thursday for a two-day working visit.

Trump is the 12th sitting US president to make such a trip, and will spend time with the Queen and prime minister before flying to Scotland to spend the weekend at his golf resort.

Thousands of people are expected to protest against his visit across the UK.

Trump is due to hold his first summit with Vladimir Putin, in Helsinki, on 16 July.

He shocked some by quipping that the Nato gathering might prove tougher than next Monday's summit with Putin.