Expert: Moscow will do its best to demonstrate its military capacity in advance of the inauguration of US President, Voice of America reports.

NATO Foreign Ministers will have a very intense agenda in Brussels on Tuesday. The strengthening of relationships with the European Union is one of the main agenda items.

However, while the alliance faces multiple challenges, starting from Russia, asserting its military might, and ending with the chaos in Syria, immigration and terrorism, the main item is not included into the agenda: what course will Donald Trump take in regard to NATO after he becomes the President? 

“Everybody will think about Trump”, the analyst of the Brussels Institute Egmont Swan Biscop noted in anticipation of two-day summit of the heads of NATO Foreign Affairs in Brussels.

The conflicting statements of the President-Elect about the North Atlantic Alliance and his more conflicting phone conversations and tweets, including the conversation with Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, agitating Beijing, only fueled fears of European countries, as the analysts note, while candidates, elected for key positions in security, caused a mixed reaction.

While delivering speech at the press conference on Monday, Secretary General of the NATO Jens Stoltenberg did not touch upon this topic directly, only noting that he is looking forward to cooperation with Trump at NATO Summit in the next year.

However, previously Stoltenberg expressed uncertainty that US engagement in the alliance will remain unchanged, in spite of Trump’s pre-election statements that the USA will not defend NATO members, which make insufficient contribution into the alliance.   

 “The Europeans will try to emphasize its commitment to the interests of the European defense and America’s obligation as per Article 5 on Collective Self-Defense”, NATO expert from Chatham House Andrew Dorman notes.

These negotiations will become the last large NATO summit, which will be held with participation of the Administration of President Obama, and the farewell meeting for US Secretary of State John Kerry, going to Germany this week.

“The Europeans will try to understand what Trump’s administration is, - Dorman said. – It is not clear if Kerry will be able to explain it. I think he is lost in conjectures as the others are”.

The summit will be held in several days after the European Union announced its new ambitious defense funding and research plan, including annual investments, amounting to USD 5.36 billion.

Though Washington encouraged European countries increasing defense expenditures for many years, the Trump’s cruel remarks are likely to have effect, the analysts consider. Currently, about 70 percent of NATO budget account for the USA. Only four alliance members – Great Britain, Greece, Poland and Estonia – meet targeted indicators and allocate for defense not less than two percent from their GDP.

However, while Europe strengthens its defense resources, the new more serious challenges are emerging in future transatlantic relationships under the new US Administration.

Though the appointment of the retired general James Mattis for the post of the Secretary of Defense was positively perceived in Europe, Trump’s praises for Russian president Vladimir Putin and his threats to terminate nuclear agreement with Iran concerned many allies. So did his choice of the National Security Advisor, whom will be the retired general Michael Flinn, the vigorous critic with stiff opposition against radical Islam.

The European allies may come into conflict with Trump on Iran issue, if he attempts to terminate agreement, Biscop thinks.

The situation with Russia is more difficult. Though Europeans retain sanctions in force and continue a strident rhetoric against Moscow on such issues as Ukraine and Syria, the changes are clearly upcoming here. The France’s presidential candidate, conservative Francois Fillon as well as some other politicians push for softer policy against Moscow.

De Hoop Scheffer forecasts that Moscow will do its best to demonstrate its military might in advance of the Trump’s inauguration. “Putin will check Trump’s reaction”, she assures.