• When NATO leaders convene on Tuesday for a three-day summit, they will ask Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan 
• After failures in Afghanistan and internal strife under the administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump
• Diplomats reported that talks among the frequently fractious organisation were still ongoing, but leaders hoped to reach agreements 

When NATO leaders convene on Tuesday for a three-day summit, they will ask Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan to waive his veto over Finland and Sweden’s application to join the military alliance as the West tries to convey a message of firmness to Russia and China.

After failures in Afghanistan and internal strife under the administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump, who threatened to withdraw Washington from the nuclear alliance, the Madrid meeting takes place in the shadow of Russia’s conflict in Ukraine at a crucial juncture for the transatlantic relationship.

Diplomats reported that talks among the frequently fractious organisation were still ongoing, but leaders hoped to reach agreements on increasing military assistance to Ukraine, increasing joint defence spending, reaffirming their resolve to confront China’s military rise, and increasing the number of troops on alert to defend the Baltic States.

In order to address migration and extremist organisations in the Sahel region of Africa, Spain, whose king will host a banquet for leaders, is also advocating for more NATO attention to the southern flank.

As part of a larger U.S. policy for a more robust Western presence in the Indo-Pacific area to oppose China, the leaders of Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and South Korea are anticipated to attend a portion of the summit.

In a speech last week, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg pledged, “We will do more to ensure we can protect every square inch of allied territory, at all times and against any danger.”

The meeting is likely to agree on a compromise by providing prompt reinforcements, despite British and American officials’ advice against the Baltic desire for permanent multinational forces in the region.

Latvia is looking to Canada to commit more soldiers there, while Germany has already stated that it will increase the number of troops ready to defend Lithuania should Russia attempt to annex NATO territory. Britain is also anticipated to increase the number of troops ready to defend Estonia.

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