More than 60 leaders of countries and organizations that work with NATO travelled to Chicago for a summit, which focuses heavily on military, humanitarian and financial aid in Afghanistan.
President Obama delivered remarks Sunday at the opening plenary session of the NATO Summit in Chicago. He welcomed leaders to the summit in his hometown of Chicago and talked about the agenda for the two-day meeting, including discussing the next phase of the security transition in Afghanistan. NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen spoke first.
The NATO summit follows a meeting of G8 leaders which took place at Camp David in Maryland on Friday and Saturday. Leaders from the G8 countries discussed issues ranging from the war in Afghanistan to the Euro zone crisis.
The President took part in officially greeting the North Atlantic Council Leaders at McCormick Place prior to his remarks.
Earlier on Sunday, President Obama welcomed NATO Secretary Rasmussen to the NATO Summit in Chicago. In brief remarks to reporters, the president talked about the meeting’s agenda including the transitioning of Afghan security, the Alliance’s defense capabilities, and its extended partnerships with other nations.
President Obama and Afghan President Hamid Karzai also spoke briefly to reporters Sunday about the strategic partnership agreement between the two nations reached earlier this year and the eventual transition of security to the Afghan people.