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The NATO summit has opened in Chicago. Afghanistan is a major issue at this year's gathering, as leaders are set to meet with Afghan President Hamid Karzai on the summit's sidelines.
US President Barack Obama is hosting the summit in his home town, Chicago, one day after leaders of major industrialized nations tackled Europe's debt crisis at the G8 summit.
The Obama administration is expected to emphasize a common vision for gradually pulling most NATO forces out of Afghanistan by the end of 2014 and the country's efforts to take charge of its own security. Differences may arise as France's new president, Francois Hollande, has repeated his pledge to pull "combat troops" from Afghanistan this year.
The organization is also expected to announce a milestone in efforts to provide a pan-European missile defense system, and will formally endorse an agreement for 14 countries to jointly purchase five US-made drones.
Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Secretary General of NATO (L) and U.S. President Barack Obama
(R) pose with Ivo Josipovic, President of Croatia as he arrived at the NATO Summit
in Chicago, May 20, 2012.
中国公共网摘编：GAN JADE |
