Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from the Nato summit in Washington DC

I'm here listening to Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who is speaking at the Nato Public Forum.

He says China risks its "normal relationship" with Nato allies unless it rethinks its support for Russia in the war in Ukraine.

Stoltenberg says China was the "main enabler" of Russia's war, ahead of both Iran and North Korea.

"They are delivering the tools, the equipment, the microelectronics," he says. "Everything that Russia needs."

While Stoltenberg adds that it "remains to be seen how far allies are willing to go" to punish China, he believes that the time for consequences may be approaching.

"If China continues, they cannot have it both ways," he says. "They cannot have normal relations with Nato allies... but continue to fuel the war."

And Stoltenberg again downplays any impact of new administrations on the alliance.

"We have proven extremely resilient and strong," he says. "They [new governments] realise we are safer and stronger together."

Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from Nato summit in Washington DC

Image source, EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock

Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg is back on the stage at the summit, talking about how Nato has been "adapting" in the face of increasing dangers for the alliance.

"This is the time we are tested. If we wanted to stand for freedom and democracy, the time is now," he says. "And the place is Ukraine."

As has been the case with him and other senior officials at this summit, Stoltenberg also adds that support for Ukraine will send "a message" to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The stronger Ukraine is, he says, the "sooner this war can end".

A document regarding the conditions for Ukraine eventually joining Nato is likely to be agreed on by the alliance countries later on Wednesday, he explains.

"I can't give you a date," he says. "But when the fighting ends in Ukraine, we need to make sure that's really the end."

Image source, Reuters

World leaders have been arriving for the past few hours at the summit in Washington DC. Some have held press conferences, like President of Finland Alexander Stubb.

He's just told media that Ukraine's path to Nato is "irreversible".

“We are seeing the rebirth of Nato 3.0, a real Zeitenwende [turning point] for the alliance,” Stubb says, adding he is very happy with the language surrounding support for Ukraine.

“It’s very important to send a message to the Kremlin from here that Ukraine’s path and bridge toward Nato membership is now irreversible,” he adds.

Asked whether he fears Russia might turn to the Baltics next, Stubb says “we don’t fear anything, we plan for everything,” adding that the Baltic Sea was now akin to a “Nato lake with an extremely strong defence capacity”.

“Coming eastbound or westbound from a Russian perspective is not a good idea,” Stubb adds.

He also told reporters that Finland was the biggest artillery power in Europe next to Poland and that their goal was to protect themselves and the alliance.

US presidential election hangs over Nato summitpublished at 16:05 British Summer Time 10 July

16:05 BST 10 July

Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from Nato summit in Washington DC

Publicly, Nato officials and delegates at this event have projected a picture of confidence in the US.

Speaking to reporters earlier, for example, Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said he believed the US would continue to stand by the alliance and remain "strong", no matter who wins the November election.

In private, however, many are singing a different tune.

I've had several chats with European delegates in town for the summit that have expressed concern, to put it mildly.

One diplomat - from a country on Nato's eastern flank - told me bluntly that he was working under the assumption that the election "could change everything" and it "hangs over every conversation here".

The terms "Trump proofing" and "future proofing" have come up repeatedly - and will likely be a continued topic of discussion going forward.

Interestingly, attendees at the Nato Public Forum were also just shown a video entitled "vox pops from America's heartland", featuring interviews with American citizens about their views of the Nato alliance.

Brandon Livesay
US reporter

The Nato summit brings together some of the most powerful leaders in the world.

And at this 75th anniversary of the alliance, there’s a lot of topics for them to talk about – both in public and behind closed doors.

It’s the first major international event for the UK's newly-elected Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who will meet US president Joe Biden for the first time later at the White House. He has also been facing questions about when his government will raise defence spending to 2.5% of GDP, having made the commitment without setting a date.

His US counterpart, and host of the Washington DC summit, has the world’s eyes on him for an entirely different reason.

Biden is under intense scrutiny after a disastrous debate against Donald Trump two weeks ago. He has faced growing calls to step down from his re-election campaign, with newspaper editorials and a number of Democrats saying the 81-year-old is too old and unable to defeat Republican Trump in an election.

Biden will hold a press conference at the end of the Nato summit. He must come out energised and sharp if he is to hope to quieten the deafening roar of US media headlines.

And these storylines are all colliding with the war in Ukraine. Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky is in Washington DC to drum up support and military aid from Nato members. He also wants to become a Nato member nation, which will be a major topic under discussion throughout the summit.

Image source, Reuters

Let's circle back to the earlier announcement that F-16 fighter jets are being sent to Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has thanked the US, Denmark and the Netherlands for sending his country's air force the jets.

In a post on X, he thanked the country for taking "practical steps" to strengthen Ukraine's air force, as well as to Belgium and Norway for committing to transferring the jets.

"This is a clear signal that Russia’s ability to terrorise Ukrainian people, cities, and communities will continue to reduce," he wrote.

Earlier at the Nato summit in Washington, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the transfer of F-16s from the US, Denmark and Netherlands was "under way".

"Those jets will be flying in the skies of Ukraine this summer to make sure that Ukraine can continue to effectively defend itself against the Russian aggression," he said.

Meanwhile, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre announced that his country "has now decided to donate six F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine.

"We plan to start delivering the aircraft in the course of 2024," he added.

In May, Belgium pledged to send 30 F-16s to Ukraine by 2028, with the first batch of aircraft arriving this year.

Zelensky has long been pushing for deliveries of US-made F-16s to help Ukraine defend its skies against deadly Russian missile and drone attacks.

In August, US President Joe Biden last August gave the green light for F-16s transfers - despite concerns the move would lead to an escalation with a nuclear-armed Russia.

Joe Biden is hosting Nato's 75th anniversary summit, as questions continue to swirl over his own political future.

Following a poor performance in the first presidential debate at the end of June, calls for the president to abandon the Democratic ticket ahead of November’s election have grown within his own party.

With uncertainty hanging in the air as Nato leaders descend on Washington, The Global Story podcast takes a look at who could replace Biden as the party’s nominee, if the Democrats attempt to force him to stand aside.

Host Caitríona Perry is joined by BBC North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher and US special correspondent Katty Kay.

Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from the Nato summit

We're now hearing from US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, who began by talking about Nato's history and how the principle of collective security was formed in the wake of the Second World War.

He noted that the "first and only time" Nato's Article 5 was invoked was after the September 11, 2001 attacks on the US. Article 5 sets out that an attack on one member of the Nato military alliance is an attack on all.

"Nato stood by us," he says. "We're going to stand by Nato".

Looking forward, Austin said the US will "not be dragged into Putin's war of choice", although it will continue to stand by Ukraine and strengthen the Nato alliance.

"Nato is now larger than ever," he adds. "Putin's war is not the result of Nato enlargement. Putin's war is the cause of Nato enlargement."

Image source, Reuters

We can bring you more now on efforts to provide Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets.

The Danish and Dutch governments are in the process of donating American-made F-16s to Ukraine, with the support of the US, the White House says.

The transfer is underway and Ukraine will be flying the jets "this summer", it says in a statement just released to the media.

Belgium and Norway have committed to provide further aircraft, the statement adds, and an international coalition intends to "support their sustainment and armament" as well as provide training for pilots.

Pelosi pours cold water on Biden's calls for Democrats to move on from Trump debatepublished at 15:07 British Summer Time 10 July

15:07 BST 10 July

Anthony Zurcher
BBC North America correspondent

As today’s Nato summit events kick off – with a busy schedule ahead for Joe Biden - former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi just threw a splash of cold water on the president’s recent calls for the Democratic Party to move on from his damaging debate performance two weeks ago.

The California congresswoman, who still holds considerable influence within the party, said the president’s critics should hold their tongues until after this week’s summit concludes.

“Whatever your thinking,” she said, “you didn't have to put that out on the table until we see how we go this week.”

She added that Biden should make a decision about whether to continue to bid for re-election. When prodded that the president had already clearly said he’s still running, she dodged.

It was the kind of response that suggests she may not be entirely satisfied with the decision he has made.

The president and his team may have thought they had successfully limited the calls for his withdrawal to pundits, newspaper editorial pages and a handful of Democrats.

But Pelosi’s remarks suggest he may not be through the storm quite yet.

Vitaliy Shevchenko
BBC Monitoring

The Nato summit in Washington will be key in deciding what military assistance Ukraine gets, but Ukrainians’ hopes are running low.

Ukrainian media are eagerly reporting promises of more air defences that have been made in Washington, but few expect a breakthrough that would put an end to lethal Russian missile attacks. One commentator is disappointed that Ukraine’s membership of Nato is not even being considered.

“Let’s be honest, there is no hope for us at the moment,” she says. “But it’s not Ukraine that’s not ready, it’s Nato that’s not capable of fighting Russia.”

One newspaper, Ukrayina Moloda, complains of a lack of leadership on the international arena.

“The titans have gone blind,” it says. ”We need victory, but does the West?”

Image source, EPA

The action doesn't kick off until around 10:45 local time (14:45 GMT; 15:45 BST), when outgoing secretary general Jens Stoltenberg gives an address at the Nato public forum, which ordinary people can attend.

Then at 12:15, more world leaders begin to arrive at the summit and pose for the famous class photograph.

The world leaders then meet for the first major discussion of this year's event at 13:00, before a news conference held by Stoltenberg at 16:30.

And then tonight there are three dinners - one for world leaders, one for foreign ministers and another for defence ministers.

Image source, Getty Images

Democrat grandee Nancy Pelosi has refused to weigh in on whether Joe Biden should stand for re-election in the presidential elections, saying "it's up to the president to decide if he is going to run".

Speaking on MSNBC's Morning Joe, Pelosi - a former speaker of the US House of Representatives - says Biden needs to first "deal with this Nato conference", which is being held in Washington.

Questions have been raised about the president's fitness for office, after a stumbling debate performance against his presumptive opponent, Donald Trump, and a TV interview last week that did little to dispel Democratic jitters.

"We're all encouraging him to make that decision," Pelosi adds, "because time is running short".

"But he's beloved, he is respected and people want him to make that decision."

Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from the Nato summit

More now from the US Secretary of State, who was just asked what he sees "victory" for Ukraine looking like in its war with Russia.

In response, Blinken says that "success is a strong, independent Ukraine" that is "able to stand on its own two feet" and is "increasingly integrated" with organisations such as the European Union and Nato.

"What we see is Ukraine on a trajectory to do just that, militarily," he adds.

Blinken again brings up the transfer of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, which he says is "happening as we speak."

These jets - which Ukrainian officials began calling for early on when the war began in 2022 - will help "concentrate Vladimir Putin's mind" and convince him that there is no path to victory for Russia in the war.

"The fastest way to peace is through a strong Ukraine," he says.

Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from the Nato summit

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has just taken the stage at the Nato Public Forum, which is being held in a hotel on the side lines of the main summit here in Washington.

After starting with a greeting to fellow "Nato nerds", Blinken dived into the "extraordinary value" of the Nato alliance and its principle of collective security.

"Ultimately, Nato is not an end in itself," he said. "The end in itself is to make sure that citizens of the countries that come together in Nato are able to lead their lives... it starts with security."

Blinken also discussed the US announcement this week that additional air defence systems would be sent to Ukraine, which he described as part of a broader package.

"These air defence systems have been job number one for Ukraine," he said, adding that Western-provided F-16 jets would also be flying over Ukraine by this summer.

More now from Nato secretary general Jens Stoltenberg.

He says there needs to be a “consensus” among all allies regarding Ukraine's accession to Nato.

Stoltenberg says it is too early to tell when that will happen, adding that they are constantly working with Ukraine on bringing it “closer to Nato” to enable its accession when the time comes.

He expects allies to agree to a substantial assistance package for Ukraine saying the aid would serve as a bridge to Kyiv's membership.

He adds that there is a constant threat of cyber-attacks and sabotage against Nato allies from Russia, but that those fall short of military attacks.

"We need to be vigilant," Stoltenberg says.

Asked about Nato's help to Ukraine’s air defence, Stoltenberg says the US, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Romania are partnering to donate Patriot missile batteries and other systems to aid Ukraine, adding they were always looking at how they could “do more”.

On deepening cooperating with South Korea, Nato’s secretary general says that the war in Ukraine shows how “our security is interlinked”, adding that "what happens in Europe matters for Asia" and vice versa.

Nato secretary general Jens Stoltenberg has just spoken at a press conference. He says that he expects the US will remain “a strong and staunch” Nato ally regardless of the outcome of the upcoming presidential election.

He adds that it is in the interest of the US to have a strong Nato as it makes the country stronger and safer.

Nato, Stoltenberg says, as an alliance of more than 30 “friends” is something “no one else has”.

He also says that previous Trump administration did not have an issue with Nato as such, but rather with the lack of financial contribution from certain allies, which he says has now changed.

Image source, EPA

Jens Stoltenberg has been the secretary general of Nato for a decade.

His time as secretary general was due to end in October 2023, but the 31 Nato states decided to extend his term - which had already been extended three times - by another year.

Norwegian-born Stoltenberg, an economist and former prime minister, has been seen as a steady leader over a tumultuous few years.

But all things must eventually come to an end and it’s former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte who will become the next secretary general of Nato, the organisation confirmed at the end of June.

Rutte was the only remaining candidate in the race, after his rival dropped out.

He will inherit overseeing Nato's response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, as well as the job of maintaining the US's commitment to the alliance if Donald Trump - who has previously expressed reticence about American involvement - is re-elected as president.

Is Trump right to claim credit for increased Nato spending?published at 13:53 British Summer Time 10 July

13:53 BST 10 July

At the Nato summit, US President Joe Biden said 23 countries in the alliance are now spending at least 2% of their GDP on defence, compared with nine when he was elected.

Donald Trump then said on Truth Social that Biden “didn’t build up money for Nato” and “he just got them to spend the money that I got members to pay”.

So who is right?

During his time in office, Trump did put “tough demands” on Nato members to meet their commitment to spend 2% of their GDP on defence – that’s according to Rose Gottemoeller, who was Nato deputy secretary general during Trump’s presidency.

But the 2% pledge wasn’t made under Trump’s watch - it was agreed to in 2014, external, two years before he was elected.

In 2016, the year Trump was elected, five countries were spending 2% or more of their GDP on defence. That increased to nine by 2020, the year Biden was elected.

And it has now gone up to 23 countries, according to Nato’s 2024 estimates, external.

Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from the Nato summit

I've just arrived in the cavernous media hall of the Walter E Washington Convention Center where the Nato summit is being held in Washington DC - ahead of a busy day.

Much of the morning, however, will be focused on arrivals, starting with Nato secretary general Jens Stoltenberg.

He just arrived and is currently delivering brief remarks to reporters, promising a "substantial package" for Ukraine.

Over the next few hours, other Nato leaders will also be arriving, some of whom will stop to talk to journalists on their way in.

At about 09:00 local time (13:00 GMT; 14:00 BST), US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken will address the Nato Public Forum held next door. His remarks will be followed by the secretary general.

Later on, Stoltenberg will also hold a news conference, where he is likely to face questions about support for Ukraine and concerns about "future-proofing" Nato.

The evening will be taken up by social events, including separate, dedicated dinners for heads of state at the White House, foreign ministers and ministers of defence.