anticipated gatherings in years. in the next half hour, we'll examine what ukraine got out of the summit — and what it didn't — and how that will affect the country's fight against russia; how the results of the nato summit will affect the bloc itself, especially now that sweden has been cleared for membership; and we want to get the view from other parts of the world, with a special focus on asia and africa. but first, here's a look at some of the key moments for this week's summit. president volodymyr zelensky, president of ukraine, welcome to you, it's great to have you here. we will issue an invitation to ukraine tojoin nato

we will issue an invitation to ukraine to join nato when allies agree and when conditions are met. we allies agree and when conditions are met. we owe it to the ukrainians, _ conditions are met. we owe it to the ukrainians, because . conditions are met. we owe it i to the ukrainians, because they are fighting there so that the british, — are fighting there so that the british, australians, americans don't _ british, australians, americans don't have _ british, australians, americans don't have to fight with russia _ russia. translation: ~ ., ., ., translation: we are grateful to artners translation: we are grateful to partners promising _ translation: we are grateful to partners promising new _ translation: we are grateful to partners promising new packages| partners promising new packages of security and defence. so how significant was this year's summit? let's bring in ivo daalder, former us ambassador to nato and now ceo of the chicago council on global affairs. i'm sure you are following this week? nato summit very closely, was the gathering in your mind a success?— a success? yes, i think it is very difficult _ a success? yes, i think it is very difficult to _ a success? yes, i think it is very difficult to call - a success? yes, i think it is very difficult to call it - very difficult to call it anything other than a success. a number of things are very important for the ukrainian audience, it was important that nato reaffirmed not only its commitment to help ukraine in

every possible way to defend itself against this brutal invasion that the russians launched, now more than 500 days ago, but also to not only open a door but to say that it is time for ukraine to think about stepping through that door. of membership. it said that the future of ukraine is in nato, president biden said ukraine willjoin nato, the question is not a matter anymore of whether, but of when. it was also significant because it sent a real important signal to russia. nato is stronger, it is more united, it is larger, all as a result of what vladimir putin did when he decided to launch this invasion. we have finland of course already as a member, sweden soon to be a member, and the 33rd member, ukraine, knocking on the door. (crosstalk). in knocking on the door. (crosstalk). , ., (crosstalk). in terms of the messa . e (crosstalk). in terms of the message to — (crosstalk). in terms of the message to russia, _ (crosstalk). in terms of the message to russia, the - (crosstalk). in terms of the message to russia, the doorl (crosstalk). in terms of the i message to russia, the door has been left open but there was no

timeline provided ukraine to walk through it. was that a strong enough message to russia? it strong enough message to russia? , , ., russia? it is very important in many ways — russia? it is very important in many ways to _ russia? it is very important in many ways to think _ russia? it is very important in many ways to think about - russia? it is very important in many ways to think about not | many ways to think about not having a timeline. if you were to link ukrainian membership to, for example, an end of hostilities or the end of the war, you are going to give russia every excuse to continue fighting for as long as it takes. that was not done, so i think the timeline as president biden said as months, not years, we will have to see how the counteroffensive ukraine is now engaging in will evolve, but the idea is that by the end of the year we hope to be in a position which we have a very serious set of discussions with ukraine about how this war may either end or at least how negotiations may be started, and nato membership is a fundamental part of that. it is, after all, the prospect of nato membership that russia feels the ukrainians want, that

gives us leveraged about how these negotiations will go. if i were vladimir putin i would not be happy about what happened vilnius this week. fix, happened vilnius this week. a couple of new members of course, finland being the newest member of the bloc and now sweden having its membership cleared, what is the significance of this expansion into those nordic countries for nato? it into those nordic countries for nato? , , , .., nato? it is very significant in two ways- — nato? it is very significant in two ways- the _ nato? it is very significant in two ways. the baltic - nato? it is very significant in two ways. the baltic sea - nato? it is very significant in two ways. the baltic sea is l two ways. the baltic sea is becoming a nato lake, it bottles up the baltic sea fleet in saint petersburg and kaliningrad that the russians have, it is very difficult for russians to now think about using the baltic as part of a military domain that it can control, let alone dominate. and in the arctic, way up north, there are eight arctic nations, seven of those will, with sweden joining, nations, seven of those will, with swedenjoining, be nato members and only russia being the non— nato member. so that is important, and finally of course, with finland having joined nato, more than half, it

has doubled the border region between nato and russia that existed before the war. that is significant, because remember, this war was started by vladimir putin. ostensibly because he thought nato was coming too close to its borders. as a result of his actions, the brutality of the russian forces, finland is now closer, it is in nato and nato has come closer to russia than ever before. i has come closer to russia than ever before-— ever before. i want to zoom back out _ ever before. i want to zoom back out now _ ever before. i want to zoom back out now to _ ever before. i want to zoom back out now to 2008, - ever before. i want to zoom back out now to 2008, and | ever before. i want to zoom - back out now to 2008, and that is also ukraine back then was asking for membership to nato, it didn't get the clear timeline, doesn't get one now either. do you think it was a missed opportunity many years ago to not provide that timeline for ukraine, and could that have potentially prevented a larger conflict? i that have potentially prevented a larger conflict?— a larger conflict? i think looking _ a larger conflict? i think looking back _ a larger conflict? i think looking back it - a larger conflict? i think looking back it is - a larger conflict? i think looking back it is pretty| a larger conflict? i think- looking back it is pretty clear that if ukraine had been a member of nato, what happened on 2a february 2022 would not have happened. after all, russia has not attacked nato,

it has attacked the country that was explicitly excluded from nato. so i think the lessons, certainly the swedes learned that, the ukrainians already knew that but they are learning it now with incredible courage and shedding blood on the battlefield, is that safety is being part of nato, which is why it is so important but in contrast to,000 eight, when there was no consensus on —— to 2008, when there was no consensus on the question of joining nato, after vilnius there is not a country that does not believe ukraine should be part of nato. that is a big change are not only something ukraine can take to the bank but frankly, vladimir putin has to be worried about. isa to be worried about. ivo daalder, _ to be worried about. ivo daalder, former - to be worried about. ivo daalder, former us - to be worried about. ivo daalder, former us ambassador to nato and president of the —— ceo of the chicago council on global affairs, thank you very much. ukraine's nato membership was one of the biggest topics of discussion at the summit. it's a reminder of how

far nato has come. it started as a small military alliance in the 1940s and became one of the world's most powerful defence organisations of the 21st century. president truman signs the north atlantic charter... nato was founded in the years following world war ii, to counter the soviet union's growing military might. 0riginally there were 12 countries from europe and north america. a few othersjoined in the decades to come. a few others joined by the late 1980s, nato was made up of these countries — that's the 12 founding members, plus greece, turkey, germany and spain. in the late 1990s there was a post—cold war enlargement. several former soviet nations joined — that included poland, romania, and slovakia, among others. earlier this year, finland joined the bloc. and this week turkey backed sweden's membership, setting the stage for the nordic nation to enter the group. ukraine pushed hard in vilnius this week for a timetable for its own entry — it got reassurances that membership will happen, but only, as we've heard, when certain conditions

are met. one of the sticking points between ukraine and nato was not creating an official timeline for membership, since they're still at war. max boot, of the council on foreign relations, wrote about that in the washington post this week. i spoke to him earlier. max, thank you forjoining us. i want to start with a recent column you wrote for the washington post. the title was" ukraine in nato: my heart says yes, my head says no". how your head and heart feeling after watching this nato summit this week? �* , , ., ., week? i'm feeling pretty good, i think even — week? i'm feeling pretty good, i think even president - week? i'm feeling pretty good, i think even president zelensky based on what he said is feeling 0k, based on what he said is feeling ok, i think the outcome is the best you can hope for, which is that ukraine gets to draw closer to nato, there is a new ukraine nato council, the possibility of ukraine joining nato at some point in the future is out there and it will be easier than it would have

beenin be easier than it would have been in the past, but nato was not setting a timeline, was not admitting ukraine anytime soon, which makes because nato countries do not want to become party to a wall with a nuclear armed state like russia. i think what they are doing however is getting a lot of support, a lot of weapons and training to ukraine, so it can fight for its own freedom and i think that is only going to be strengthened after the summit. we recently put your column to the former deputy assistant secretary of defence for europe and nato policy, he actually strongly disagreed with what you wrote, here is what he said. a , you wrote, here is what he said. , ., you wrote, here is what he said. , . , . you wrote, here is what he said. , ., , ., , said. max is a brilliant guy but in this _ said. max is a brilliant guy but in this case _ said. max is a brilliant guy but in this case i _ said. max is a brilliant guy but in this case i think - said. max is a brilliant guy but in this case i think he l said. max is a brilliant guy| but in this case i think he is fundamentally wrong. the lesson we have — fundamentally wrong. the lesson we have learned over the last three — we have learned over the last three decades is countries that aren't— three decades is countries that aren't in— three decades is countries that aren't in nato tend to get attacked by russia. we have left ukraine for too long in a grey— left ukraine for too long in a grey zone of european security, grey— grey zone of european security, grey zones attract violence and aggression. grey zones attract violence and aggression-— aggression. what is your resnonse _ aggression. what is your response to _ aggression. what is your response to his - aggression. what is your i response to his comments? aggression. what is your - response to his comments? i basically agree with what he is

saying, in fact it is true that countries that are not in nato like georgia or ukraine, d10 get attacked by russia, whereas countries that are in nato, like poland and the baltic republics don't get attacked by russia, i think that is absolutely true. the problem is, how do you get ukraine into nato while it is in the middle of a war with russia, and if it were tojoin anytime of a war with russia, and if it were to join anytime soon, it could invoke article five, the collective defence provision, you could argue that 0k, article five doesn't prescribe any specific cause of action, all it says is that one —— an attack on one i like is an attack on one i like is an attack on one i like is an attack on them all. the allies would take well, we are carrying out article five by providing weapons and training and intelligence to ukraine. the problem with that is, there has been an assumption that if russia or some other outside power actually does attack one of the nato allies, the other nato allies would do more than say "here is a weapons you can

defend yourselves with", the other nato allies would actually say here are our troops and we will go to your offence —— defence. that is especially vital in the case of the baltic republic and other countries who are much too weak to stop an onslaught. they want —— they do not want to send a signal that article five may not mean other nato countries will not come and fight. if we are not going to fight for ukraine anytime soon there no real desire on the part of the us or europe to do that, we cannot omit —— admit ukraine into nato anytime soon. it president biden this week said" putin has already lost the war". is he right? to some extent i — war". is he right? to some extent i think _ war". is he right? to some extent i think president - war". is he right? to some i extent i think president biden is right because remember, putin was my goal in invading ukraine was to destroy ukrainian sovereignty, he hoped his forces would be in kyiv within a week. instead what

happened over the last year and a half is that while the russians have managed to occupy about 20% of ukrainian territory, they have also caused a massive counter reaction where ukrainian statehood, ukrainian nationalism is stronger than ever and ukraine is roosting far more successfully than anybody could have anticipated. right now all the questions are about how successful will be ukrainian counteroffensive be, and that is an open question... ijust want tojump and that is an open question... i just want to jump in and that is an open question... ijust want to jump in here because i want to get to one last question about the former president donald trump. there has been some concern raised especially on the side of the french president emmanuel macron about a potential second trump administration. how prepared do you think european and nato allies are for a second trump administration? i don't think there is any way to prepare for a second trump administration because i think it would be a catastrophe for american democracy and for america's allies, and would probably mean the abandonment

of ukraine. that is something i hope will not occur, because we are seeing nato stronger than ever right now, and a lot of thatis ever right now, and a lot of that is due i think to the leadership of president biden that has provided, whereas if trump were in office he would not be supporting ukraine, he would not be supporting our nato allies, he would probably be kowtowing to putin as he was five years ago in helsinki, the very city that president biden visited this last week. max. visited this last week. max boot, senior _ visited this last week. max boot, senior fellow - visited this last week. max boot, senior fellow for - boot, senior fellow for national security studies at the council on foreign relations, thank you for your time. us presidentjoe biden walked a bit of a tightrope during his time in lithuania. he hoped to show support for ukraine, but not push too hard, to avoid potentially provoking moscow or political opponents back here in washington. but speaking to students in vilnius, his message was clear. we vilnius, his message was clear. will not waver. we waver!

we will not waver. we will not waver!. cheering i mean that, our commitment to ukraine or not we can. we will stand for freedom today, tomorrow and as long as it takes! a short time ago my colleague sumi somaskanda spoke to matt miller, the us state department spokesperson about america's commitment to ukraine. thank you forjoining us on the programme. i want ask about the nato summit thatjust programme. i want ask about the nato summit that just to please in bilious with president biden saying before he left that the ukrainian president zelensky understands that whether or not he is in nato is not relevant now as long as he has the commitments and he is speaking about the security guarantees, as you know, agree to the summit. ukraine has made clear at once nato membership, suddenly down the line to prevent russia from attacking again so can the security guarantees actually deter russia? ~ , ., guarantees actually deter russia? ~ , guarantees actually deter russia? ~ _ russia? me start by saying we fully exnect — russia? me start by saying we fully expect ukraine _ russia? me start by saying we fully expect ukraine will- fully expect ukraine will become a member of nato and you saw nato _ become a member of nato and you saw nato make that clear in the communicator issued in the summit _ communicator issued in the summit. the only question now is a matter—

summit. the only question now is a matter of timing. we said we don't _ is a matter of timing. we said we don't believe for the united states— we don't believe for the united states that it should be a while _ states that it should be a while ukraine remains at war with— while ukraine remains at war with russia, that would put the united — with russia, that would put the united states instantly in a war with _ united states instantly in a war with russia and you see easily— war with russia and you see easily how that would escalate and enter. conflict, i don't and enter. conflict, idon't think— and enter. conflict, i don't think anyone in the world wants _ think anyone in the world wants. at the same time we want to do— wants. at the same time we want to do two— wants. at the same time we want to do two things, one marketing duty assistance we provided before — duty assistance we provided before the onset of the full—scale invasion some 16 months _ full—scale invasion some 16 months ago but to remark, and this is— months ago but to remark, and this is the — months ago but to remark, and this is the important thing that— this is the important thing that came out this week, make clear_ that came out this week, make clear to — that came out this week, make clear to ukraine we are there for them _ clear to ukraine we are there for them in the long—term and by we — for them in the long—term and by we i— for them in the long—term and by we i don'tjust mean the united _ by we i don'tjust mean the united states but members of the g7 — united states but members of the g7 and other countries who signed — the g7 and other countries who signed onto a statement the g7 signed onto a statement the 67 issue _ signed onto a statement the 67 issue this — signed onto a statement the 67 issue this week to ensure we aren't— issue this week to ensure we aren'tiust _ issue this week to ensure we aren'tjust preparing ukraine aren't just preparing ukraine to aren'tjust preparing ukraine to defend itself in the short term — to defend itself in the short term but they have a long—term capability— term but they have a long—term capability to build the defence capabilities so that russia gets— capabilities so that russia gets the message that the united _ gets the message that the united states isn't going anywhere, the g7 united states isn't going anywhere, the 67 isn't going anywhere, the 67 isn't going anywhere, nato isn't going anywhere, nato isn't going anywhere and we will continue to stand — anywhere and we will continue to stand by ukraine. vladimir

putin— to stand by ukraine. vladimir putin estherqin about to stand by ukraine. vladimir putin esther qin about whether can outlast the west, we are making _ can outlast the west, we are making clear the answer the question— making clear the answer the question is no.— making clear the answer the question is no. what vladimir putin said _ question is no. what vladimir putin said this _ question is no. what vladimir putin said this week - question is no. what vladimir putin said this week after - question is no. what vladimir putin said this week after the | putin said this week after the nato summit in speaking to journalists is the following, quote, i'm sure this will not increase the security of ukraine itself and in general will make the world is much more vulnerable and lead to additional tension in the international arena. additional tension in the internationalarena. is additional tension in the international arena. is this promise of nato membership at some point down the road actually going to lead to heightened tensions? i don't think anyone _ heightened tensions? i don't think anyone should - heightened tensions? i don't think anyone should look - heightened tensions? i don't think anyone should look to l think anyone should look to vladimir— think anyone should look to vladimir putin forany think anyone should look to vladimir putin for any signals ahout— vladimir putin for any signals about what will increase the security— about what will increase the security of ukraine. i'll say that— security of ukraine. i'll say that one _ security of ukraine. i'll say that one of the things before the outside of the war that putin— the outside of the war that putin made public demands about repeated, — putin made public demands about repealed, he did not want to see ukraine and to nato. we before — see ukraine and to nato. we before the outset of the consent, conflict may george volt — consent, conflict may george volt who _ consent, conflict may george voll who are willing to enter discussions with him about legitimate european security questions, that nato's opendoor policy— questions, that nato's opendoor policy would remain, it was at

the nato _ policy would remain, it was at the nato and ukraine to decide that but— the nato and ukraine to decide that but if he had legitimate security— that but if he had legitimate security concerns we were happy to add _ security concerns we were happy to add a — security concerns we were happy to add a discussions about those _ to add a discussions about those and putin made clear from day one — those and putin made clear from day one he — those and putin made clear from day one he had no interest in reat— day one he had no interest in real discussions, he wanted to invade — real discussions, he wanted to invade ukraine because he wanted _ invade ukraine because he wanted to engage in a campaign of territorial acquisition to erase _ of territorial acquisition to erase ukraine from the map and capture — erase ukraine from the map and capture ukrainian territory. he failed — capture ukrainian territory. he failed in — capture ukrainian territory. he failed in that goal as the president said this week, he keeps — president said this week, he keeps raining death and destruction upon ukraine sol don't — destruction upon ukraine sol don't need don't need to listen to vladimir putin about what will increase the security of ukraine _ will increase the security of ukraine. we know it will increase _ ukraine. we know it will increase the security of ukraine _ increase the security of ukraine and that's making sure they— ukraine and that's making sure they help — ukraine and that's making sure they help they need to defend themselves in the short term and deter russian aggression in the long—term. and deter russian aggression in the long-term.— and deter russian aggression in the long-term. matt miller from the long-term. matt miller from the us state _ the long-term. matt miller from the us state department. - now, nato itself may have involved only 30—odd specific nations, but this gathering was watched by nations around the globe. because what happens in vilnius doesn't necessarily stay in vilnius. the impact of the summit on the war in ukraine will be watched by leaders in africa. many nations there have remained steadfastly neutral in the conflict.

and for the second time, asian nations were represented at the nato summit. the leaders ofjapan, south korea, australia and new zealand all participated in the gathering. with me now is ambassadorj peter pham, distinguished fellow with the atlantic council's africa centre. and mirna galic, senior policy analyst, china and east asia at the united states institute of peace. thank you so much forjoining us for what been an interesting week. we want to start with you, we had a garage. the four leaders of the asia—pacific were at the summit, japan, australia and new zealand. when hoping to achieve? idat australia and new zealand. when hoping to achieve?— hoping to achieve? not it interesting _ hoping to achieve? not it interesting because - hoping to achieve? not it l interesting because they've hoping to achieve? not it - interesting because they've had relations with nato for a number of years back to the 2000 that list and originally some impetus for these countries wanted relations with nato were basic things like interoperability with nato nations, addressing problems that span geographic borders

like cyber attacks, maritime security, non—proliferation, etc and over the past dozen years there have been changes in international system in terms of strategic competition between the us and china, us and russia, and we have seen a relationship between russia and china and since the ukrainian war the undermining of the rules—based international order and that's what the new contacts on relations between nato and the countries, which can deeply about the rules—based international order, want to work with nato to protect it and are quite interested in a growing genomic both they and european partners recognise which is the sort of effects that security implications in one region have on the other, that both are starting to recognise. presumably china was also watching closely as the nato summit took place. how do you think china sees nato's influence?— think china sees nato's influence? . ., , , influence? china has been robustly — influence? china has been robustly expressible - influence? china has been| robustly expressible about influence? china has been - robustly expressible about his distaste for nato's relations with its partners in the region but it's important to point out that nato has had interest in the region for many, many years

before nato even started focusing on china as a security challenge, so nato has had operations in the region, had a number of counter piracy organisations between 2008 and 2016 in the ocean, partners in the region as i've mentioned, so nato presence, not presence because nato is not physically present but their engagement in the region has long preceded the region has long preceded the focus on china so i think it is important to point that out. china is unhappy in many parts because china is unhappy about the strengthening of us alliances in general, usg alliances in general, usg alliances in general, usg alliances in the region with us partners there are new as alliances elsewhere because china sees this as inherently anti—china so that's where a lot of china distaste for what's happening between nato and the partners come from. nato has partnered with african union for two decades but there are many african nations that have remained neutral in the conflict. why is that and talk

about the relationship nato has with the continent in general? nato has a very deep relationship with the continent perhaps— relationship with the continent perhaps not well known but since — perhaps not well known but since the early 2000 nato has had support given to african union — had support given to african union security efforts on the continent. first in sudan and then— continent. first in sudan and then formal agreements to provide _ then formal agreements to provide airlift and see left african _ provide airlift and see left african union peacekeeping operations in somalia. there is been _ operations in somalia. there is been since _ operations in somalia. there is been since 2014 a formal agreement between the african union _ agreement between the african union and nato to have a nato office — union and nato to have a nato office at — union and nato to have a nato office at the african union headed _ office at the african union headed by a senior military officer— headed by a senior military officer and deputy to co—ordinate that relationship and since _ co—ordinate that relationship and since the warsaw summit in 2016— and since the warsaw summit in 2016 there has been a formal memorandum of understanding between — memorandum of understanding between african and nato. how surrised between african and nato. how surprised are — between african and nato. how surprised are you _ between african and nato. how surprised are you to _ between african and nato. firm? surprised are you to see at least 13 and the latest un vote remained very neutral in the conflict? .,

remained very neutral in the conflict? . ~ .. conflict? individual african countries _ conflict? individual african countries have _ conflict? individual african countries have their - conflict? individual african countries have their own l countries have their own interests. most notable among them _ interests. most notable among them is — interests. most notable among them is probably south africa which — them is probably south africa which for— them is probably south africa which for a variety of reasons ranging — which for a variety of reasons ranging from the pedestrian, the biggest donor to the african _ the biggest donor to the african national congress, the ruling — african national congress, the ruling party, is a sentient russian _ ruling party, is a sentient russian oligarch, two historic ties from _ russian oligarch, two historic ties from the liberation struggle days, perhaps a little exaggerated, and other interests, but that's very particular to specific countries. if you look at africa _ countries. if you look at africa as _ countries. if you look at africa as a whole, nato has a deep — africa as a whole, nato has a deep relationship and nato countries do. in fact, more than — countries do. in fact, more than half— countries do. in fact, more than half the african union budget— than half the african union budget is paid for by nato members. budget is paid for by nato members-— budget is paid for by nato members. ., ., ~ ., budget is paid for by nato members. ., ., ., members. looking at south korea jaan, members. looking at south korea japan. what _ members. looking at south korea japan, what would _ members. looking at south korea japan, what would any _ members. looking at south korea japan, what would any stronger. japan, what would any stronger ties look like as much work? again, it's more about even existing ties and for these partners both japan and korea announced at the summit that they'd signed a new partnership agreements with nato court individually tailored

partnership programme, a sort of debar, more comprehensive partnership document that they've had with nato before and a lot of it is about increasing practical cooperation and in certain areas like emerging a disruptive technologies like cyber space, disruptive technologies like cyberspace, so if you see an increase in his relationships it'll be a deepening and broadening may be of the types of focus these relationships have. i of focus these relationships have. ., ., i. of focus these relationships have. ., ., have. i would ask you both, startin: have. i would ask you both, starting with _ have. i would ask you both, starting with you _ have. i would ask you both, i starting with you ambassador, many nations in africa and asia have close economic ties with russia and china. how difficult of a balancing act is that? is undoubtedly, they been impacted by the _ undoubtedly, they been impacted by the war. exports of green, of cooking _ by the war. exports of green, of cooking oil, of energy, all these — of cooking oil, of energy, all these prices have gone up and suddenly— these prices have gone up and suddenly african countries have been _ suddenly african countries have been on — suddenly african countries have been on the forefront of being impacted by that and the effect of the — impacted by that and the effect of the russian invasion. 0n the other— of the russian invasion. 0n the other hand, the trade ties bevond _ other hand, the trade ties beyond that i actually much deeper— beyond that i actually much deeper with the western countries of nato. for example,

there _ countries of nato. for example, there are — countries of nato. for example, there are africa the biggest trader— there are africa the biggest trader bloc is western europe and the — trader bloc is western europe and the united states. china may— and the united states. china may be _ and the united states. china may be the individual nation with— may be the individual nation with which individual african countries may have the most debt— countries may have the most debt or— countries may have the most debt or most individual trade but very— debt or most individual trade but very closely behind and cumulatively the united states, canada. — cumulatively the united states, canada, and in europe and certainly— canada, and in europe and certainly our allies, japan, south _ certainly our allies, japan, south korea, and others are very— south korea, and others are very closely behind.- south korea, and others are very closely behind. mirna, 20 seconds. _ very closely behind. mirna, 20 seconds, similar— very closely behind. mirna, 20 seconds, similar situation - very closely behind. mirna, 20 seconds, similar situation in l seconds, similar situation in asia? ., , seconds, similar situation in asia? . , , , asia? china is the biggest tradin: asia? china is the biggest trading partner _ asia? china is the biggest trading partner of - asia? china is the biggest trading partner of all - asia? china is the biggest - trading partner of all everyone nato indo—pacific countries are conscious of the need to maintain economic relations with the same time the divinity resting on their own in terms of making sure their traders more diversified and trying to balance the relationship the security site. ambassadorj peter pham with the atlantic council's africa centre, and mirna galic with the united states institute of peace. thank you to you both.

that brings us to the end of this bbc nato special. we want to leave you with some images from vilnius, a meeting that made more headlines than most. handshakes, handsha kes, of course, handshakes, of course, plenty of those. and some big developments, with the confirmation of a future member, sweden, and another nation, ukraine, with a longer path ahead. thanks for watching. i'm carl nasman in washington. stay with us here on bbc news. hello there. i think it's fair to say that the weather doesn't look and feel much like summer at the moment. these were some pictures taken on friday. it was particularly windy in the southwest of england and we actually had more rain in cornwall on friday than fell during the whole of last month, and we had rain far and wide across the uk as well. that rain has been working its way northwards on that weather front there, which is wrapped around an area of low pressure, and that will

dominate the weather through the rest of the weekend. now, the rain, by saturday morning, is in the far north of scotland. temperatures 12—14 degrees. some showers already arriving and we'll see more of those as the winds pick up, particularly across england and wales, with the strongest of the winds in the south. 40 mph gusts, quite widely, maybe a bit stronger, especially around some coastal areas. and it could bring some damage and some disruption. especially as those downpours arrive. and we'll see these showers breaking out more widely through the day. some wetter weather, particularly for wales and western parts of england. thunderstorms almost anywhere. some heavy showers arriving in scotland and northern ireland where it's not going to be quite so windy here. but temperatures are still a bit disappointing, really, for the time of year. we're likely to find 18—19 widely, a touch warmer in the southeast where there shouldn't be as many showers in the afternoon. the low pressure itself is continuing to push northwards. it may take away the worst of the weather for sunday. although having said that,

it could be a bit windier than saturday for scotland and northern ireland. and we've got some showers here, some of them heavy, maybe some longer spells of rain. but not quite so windy on sunday for england and wales. there may be a bit more sunshine around, but there's still the chance of some showers, too. even though there aren't as many showers around, we've still got those temperatures peaking at only 20—21 celsius in the afternoon. now, looking ahead to next week and some changes on the way. it's not going to be quite as windy next week. there may be a bit more sunshine around and fewer showers, but we're not going to get any of the heat that's affecting southern parts of europe. you may be pleased about that. you may be pleased about that. 22—23 degrees the top temperature, 22—23 degrees the top temperature, probably, over next week. probably, over next week. it's going to be much hotter across southern parts of europe. temperatures not quite so high around coastal areas, but it will be especially hot as you head inland.

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