PM May receives NATO chief in London meeting

By Ahmet Gurhan Kartal

LONDON (AA) - British Prime Minister Theresa May and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg met in London on Tuesday.

The two agreed that the leaders' summit of NATO alliance in London next December “would be an opportunity to celebrate NATO’s strength and look ahead to the next 70 years of the Alliance.”

May and Stoltenberg “spoke about the importance of all Allies investing in our shared security in order to adapt to 21st century threats and protect our people,” according to a government statement.

“They both welcomed the progress that has been made on Allies’ spending commitments in recent years but agreed it was important to maintain momentum and encourage all Allies to increase their contributions,” it said.

May and Stoltenberg also discussed some of the security challenges “including continuing Russian aggression and cyber threats from China”.

May welcomed NATO’s focus on these areas and “offered to share further U.K. expertise with NATO on them.”

“Both the Prime Minister and Secretary General Stoltenberg noted NATO’s important role in combatting terrorism, particularly in Iraq and Afghanistan,” the statement added.

“They both agreed on the importance of achieving a sustainable peace deal in Afghanistan that prioritises human rights,” it said.