Johnson to call for unity at tense NATO summit

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to call for unity at a tense NATO summit slated to begin near here on Tuesday amid growing tensions within the military bloc.

The summit which will mark the founding of the 29-member defence alliance 70 years ago, was being overshadowed by a bitter row between France and Turkey, and a continuing debate over finances, reports the BBC.

As host of the two-day summit, Johnson is expected to reiterate the importance of NATO staying united, the Prime Minister's spokesman said.

"The Prime Minister's position is that NATO is the most enduring and successful alliance in military history and that it continues to adapt to the evolving threats that we face," the spokesman said.

"It is the cornerstone of Euro-Atlantic security and it helps to keep a billion people safe. The Prime Minister will emphasise that all members must be united behind shared priorities so Nato can adapt to the challenges ahead."

Tensions have grown since the election of US President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly complained that Europe's NATO members were not contributing enough to the alliance.

He arrived in the UK on Monday ahead of a reception to be hosted by the Queen at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday evening.

Trump is set to hold separate talks with the German and French leaders and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.