For over 60 years, NATO has successfully protected our populations and our principles. The transatlantic bond has been a wise investment that has delivered security dividends year after year. At our NATO summit in Chicago we will
shape an Alliance that is capable of overcoming the economic crisis of today, while guaranteeing for tomorrow.
With more than 130,000 troops, the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan remains our most important mission. Fifty Allies and partners are determined to ensure that the country will never again be a base for global terrorism. At our last NATO summit, in Lisbon in 2010, we agreed to a process of transition of our security responsibilities to the Afghan authorities by the end of 2014.