'Cool it,' France and Germany to tell Trump at NATO talks

NATOleaders willtellUS President DonaldTrumpon Wednesday they are spending billions more dollars on their militaries in the hope that he pares back his attacks on the Western alliance.

Informaltalksfollowing a Buckingham Palace reception on Tuesday to celebrate 70 years ofNATO, European leaders led byGermanyandFranceaim totellTrumpthey will not be treated as junior partners as they confront global conflicts.

DespiteTrump's accusations on Tuesday that allies were "delinquent" in their failure to spend as much as the United States on their armed forces, Europe, Turkey, and Canada will use the gathering at a luxury golf club north of London to argue they will spend $400 billion (£312 billion) collectively on defence by 2024.

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"If we invest money and risk our soldiers' lives we should be clear onNATO's fundamentals," French President Emmanuel Macron said on Twitter, adding that on Wednesday he would "defend the interests ofFranceand Europe."

That is likely to include a push to broadenNATOpolitically to consider a bigger role for the alliance in the Middle East and possibly Africa, although Berlin and Paris must first seekNATOsupport for a "wise persons" group to draw up reform plans.

In a final communique,NATOallies will recommit to their pledge to defend each other, while Britain is also expected to put six warships, two fighter squadrons and thousands of troops atNATO's disposal to meet a USdemand for European armies to be more combat-ready.

NATOwill also warn China for the first time that it is monitoring Beijing's growing military might, agreeing to gradually prepare the alliance to defend against any possible future hostilities, in arenas ranging from the Arctic to computer networks.

But the debate is unlikely to be easy.

Tuesday's gathering in London was marked by testy exchanges betweenTrumpand Macron over the future of transatlantic ties, while the USleader reiterated his criticism ofGermanyfor not spending enough on defence, seemingly unaware of Berlin's new defence plans to reach aNATOspending target by 2031.

"I'm a politician, and I'm used to being criticised for good rhetoric but bad substance. In the case ofNATO, it is the opposite. We have had bad rhetoric but extremely good substance,"NATOSecretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told diplomats and experts at an event in London on Tuesday.

Macron also accused Turkey of working with Islamic State proxies in Syria, although Canada's leader played down tensions.

"NATOhas survived because we've always had frank conversations," Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said.