NATO leaders to meet outside London

NATO leaders are to meet outside of London for formal talks as they gather to mark the military alliance’s 70th anniversary.

The talks will take place at a luxury hotel near Watford and follow receptions held on Tuesday at Buckingham palace and Downing Street.

The two-day summit has so far been overshadowed by tension between allies.

Tuesday saw sharp exchanges between US president Donald Trump and French president Emmanuel Macron.

There also are disagreements over Turkey’s recent military action in Northern Syria, relative levels of military spending by members and recent controversial comments by president Macron that the alliance is brain dead.