Trump meets wary NATO and EU for ‘tough’ talks in Brussels

Donald Trump meets NATO and EU leaders on Thursday in Brussels for what his team are describing as "tough" talks, with nervous allies hoping for a strong show of commitment from the US President.

Leaders will be hoping to convince Trump of the lasting relevance of the Brussels-based European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, together widely credited with keeping peace in Europe after World War II.

Trump dismissed NATO as "obsolete" for failing to tackle Islamist terror and focussing on Russia instead, criticising it for spending less on defence than an agreed 2%. He also alarmed the EU by backing Britain's exit from the 28-nation bloc.

However, Trump has since backed away from his comments, and hopes are high in Brussels that he will make a display of solidarity.

"We expect him to recommit to NATO's founding rule that an attack against one ally is an attack against all," a senior European diplomat at the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation said.

Trump will also meet Europe's chief executive Jean-Claude Juncker and European Council President Donald Tusk, who chairs EU summits, in the morning.

Trump set out his stall as he met Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel shortly after his arrival on Wednesday night, saying that the most important issue was terrorism after the "horrible situation" in Manchester.

"When you see something like what happened a few days ago you realise how important it is to win this fight. And we will win this fight," Trump said, fresh from meeting Pope Francis at the Vatican.

Ahead of Thursday's meetings, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson told reporters that Mr Trump "really wants to persuade NATO members to step up and fully meet their obligations".

He added: "I think you can expect the president to be very tough on them and say... 'We are doing a lot. The American people are doing a lot for your security, for joint security. You need to make sure you're doing your share for your own security as well.'

"That's going to be the core of his message to NATO."