Donald Trump arrives at Downing Street to meet Boris Johnson and other NATO world leaders following Palace reception – The Sun
DONALD Trump was all smiles at 10 Downing Street, where he joined Boris Johnson and other NATO world leaders following the Queen's reception at Buckingham Palace.
Leaders from the alliance's 29 member states will start official talks on Wednesday at The Grove, a country house hotel near Watford.
Tomorrow's meeting in Herts is expected to consider new threats, including cyber and space.
Mr Johnson intends reminding allies that their commitment to NATO has helped keep people across the globe safe since its inception in 1949.
Mr Johnson is expected to say: "Seventy years on, we are rock solid in our commitment to Nato and to the giant shield of solidarity that now protects 29 countries and nearly a billion people.
"The fact that we live in peace today demonstrates the power of the simple proposition at the heart of this alliance: that for as long as we stand together, no-one could hope to defeat us – and therefore no-one will start a war.
"This essential principle is enshrined in Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty – that if any one of us is attacked, all of us will go to their defence.
"If NATO has a motto, it is, 'one for all, and all for one'."
CYBER THREAT
Mr Johnson will add: "Everything our peoples hold dear – from liberty and democracy to their jobs, homes, schools and hospitals – would not be secure and could not flourish without the peace that NATO is designed to guarantee."
But the PM will warn that peace "cannot be taken for granted".
He is set to lay out the UK's own contribution to the alliance's defence and highlight "emerging threats", such as cyber warfare.
Mr Johnson is also expected to say: "For the UK's part, we spend over two per cent of GDP on defence.
"We are making the biggest contribution of any European ally to NATO's readiness initiative by offering an armoured brigade, two fighter squadrons and six warships, including the Royal Navy's new aircraft carriers.
"As allies and friends, we must never shy away from discussing new realities, particularly NATO's response to emerging threats like hybrid warfare and disruptive technologies including space and cyber."
POWER HANDSHAKES
While at 10 Downing Street tonight, Mr Trump again met with French President Emmanuel Macron.
Perhaps still tender from an earlier bruising handshake with Mr Macron, photos of the US and French leaders show a briefer, more gentle handshake before the pair joined Mr Johnson.
Mr Trump began his first of two days at the NATO conference by rebuking Mr Macron, once arguably his closest European ally among foreign leaders.
Today, while speaking about the terror threat, he told Mr Macron in front of reporters: "We have a tremendous amount of captured fighters — ISIS fighters — over in Syria, and they’re all under lock and key.
"But many are from France, many are from Germany, many are from UK. They’re mostly from Europe.
"Would you like some nice ISIS fighters? I can give them to you. You can take everyone you can."
Mr Macron replied: "Let’s be serious, the very large number of fighters you have on the ground are ISIS fighters coming from Syria, from Iraq, and the region.
"It is true that you have foreign fighters coming from Europe, but this is a tiny minority of the overall problem we have in the region.
"I think number-one priority is to get rid of ISIS and these terrorist groups.
"You still have fighters in this region — in Syria, and now in Iraq — and more and more.
"And the whole destabilisation of the region makes the situation more difficult to fix the situation against ISIS."
Mr Trump replied: "This is why he’s a great politician, because that was one of the greatest non-answers I’ve ever heard — and that’s okay."
MEETING THE QUEEN
The reception at Downing Street came after the Queen and Prince Charles welcomed the US President and fellow NATO leaders to Buckingham Palace.
Mr Trump landed in London last night for the 70th anniversary summit, and has today been enjoying a whirlwind tour of meetings with his counterparts and Royals.
CLARENCE HOUSE
Mr Trump met the Prince of Wales for an afternoon tea at Clarence House, ahead of tonight's NATO reception with the Queen.
Protesters on the Mall could be heard and helicopters hovered above as the president's motorcade – featuring his vehicle 'The Beast' – arrived.
After being kept waiting for around 40 minutes, Prince Charles and Camilla greeted the Trumps at the entrance shortly before 6pm before welcoming them inside.
The two couples posed for pictures in the morning room before moving to private quarters for tea.
Both the duchess and Melania opted for bold colours, with Camilla wearing a red dress under a black cape jacket and the First Lady dressed in a yellow cape.
Prince Charles earlier today met other NATO leaders, including Canada's PM Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Norway Erna Solberg and Italy's PM, Giuseppe Conte.
Several NATO leaders including France's Emmanuel Macron and Germany's Angela Merkel are in town to celebrate 70 years of the historic alliance, which keeps millions of people around the world safe.
Donald Trump has previously boasted of his amazing relationship with Her Majesty.
DON LANDS IN THE UK
Wednesday December 4
The official programme on December 4 will take place at the Grove Hotel, Watford.
An official greeting by the Secretary General and the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom is scheduled to start shortly after 9am, followed by a family photo.
A working session of the North Atlantic Council at the level of Heads of State and Government is scheduled to start at 10:00 and last until 13:00.
The Secretary General will hold a press conference with Boris Johnson at 13:30.
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