Leaders from around the world are gathering in Chicago on May 20-21 for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Summit hosted by President Barack Obama. This important diplomatic event will focus on Afghanistan, as NATO nations have planned a gradual withdrawal of combat forces by 2014, and in particular on the next steps of transition and post-2014 Afghanistan. The leaders are also expected to discuss Iran, North Korea, Syria, and the global economy, with a particular focus on the financial situation in Europe.
In all, several thousand dignitaries will gather in Chicago. Attendees will include Heads of State and Government, cabinet ministers, other high-ranking government officials, and NATO’s Secretary General. This will be the first time an American city other than Washington has hosted a NATO summit and about 2,000 journalists from across the world are expected in Chicago to chronicle the events.
The NATO Summit is preceded by the G8 Summit hold on May 18-19 at Camp David, in Maryland, where the leaders will discuss issues such as macroeconomics, deficit reduction, regional security, development and accountability. Other issues identified are energy, food security and the Deauville Partnership. There will also be discussions on food security with invited African leaders from Benin, Ethiopia, Ghana and Tanzania.