Hot on the heels of the G7 summit in Germany comes the Nato Summit 2022, perhaps the most scrutinised meeting of the military alliance since the Cold War, with its ambitions in eastern Europe cited by Russian President Vladimir Putin as a reason for the invasion of Ukraine.
Here, The National answers questions on the summit and looks back at its history.
When and where is the Nato Summit 2022?
The Nato Summit 2022 will take place in Madrid, Spain, from June 28 to June 30. The venue is the Recinto Ferial Ifema.
What is on the agenda?
Nato's role in guaranteeing security in Europe is facing its biggest test since the Cold War due to concerns that Mr Putin's territorial ambitions may not be limited to Ukraine.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson wants allies to agree to a new phase in military, political and financial support for Ukraine, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to make a similar case in an address.
Mr Johnson wants more defence outlay in the alliance, with the commitment to spend 2 per cent of gross domestic product being treated as a floor, rather than a ceiling.
Finland and Sweden have applied for Nato membership and the guarantee of mutual protection it brings, in response to Russia's actions.
Mr Johnson supports the Nordic countries joining but there has been resistance from Turkey, which accuses the two countries of supporting Kurdish separatist groups.
The growth of China as a military, political and economic power also concerns the western alliance.
"For the first time, we will address China and the challenges it poses to our interests, security and values," said Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who will host the summit.
Moscow and Beijing are "openly contesting the rules-based international order", he said in the run-up to the Madrid summit.
Which countries are attending the summit?
The summit will be attended by the leaders of Nato's 30 members.
In 1949 there were 12 founding members of the alliance: Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the UK and the US.
The other member countries are: Greece and Turkey (1952), Germany (1955), Spain (1982), the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland (1999), Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia (2004), Albania and Croatia (2009), Montenegro (2017) and North Macedonia (2020).
What is the Nato Summit and how many have taken place?
Since 1949 there have been 31 Nato summits held at key moments in the alliance’s evolution.
They are used to introduce policy, invite new members, launch major initiatives and reinforce partnerships.
They are held at the North Atlantic Council's highest level possible: heads of state and government.
The summits always take place in a Nato member country and are chaired by the organisation's secretary general.
Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale
Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni
Director: Amith Krishnan
Rating: 3.5/5
Neil Thomson – THE BIO
Family: I am happily married to my wife Liz and we have two children together.
Favourite music: Rock music. I started at a young age due to my father’s influence. He played in an Indian rock band The Flintstones who were once asked by Apple Records to fly over to England to perform there.
Favourite book: I constantly find myself reading The Bible.
Favourite film: The Greatest Showman.
Favourite holiday destination: I love visiting Melbourne as I have family there and it’s a wonderful place. New York at Christmas is also magical.
Favourite food: I went to boarding school so I like any cuisine really.
'Downton Abbey: A New Era'
Director: Simon Curtis
Cast: Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern, Maggie Smith, Michelle Dockery, Laura Carmichael, Jim Carter and Phyllis Logan
Rating: 4/5
How has net migration to UK changed?
The figure was broadly flat immediately before the Covid-19 pandemic, standing at 216,000 in the year to June 2018 and 224,000 in the year to June 2019.
It then dropped to an estimated 111,000 in the year to June 2020 when restrictions introduced during the pandemic limited travel and movement.
The total rose to 254,000 in the year to June 2021, followed by steep jumps to 634,000 in the year to June 2022 and 906,000 in the year to June 2023.
The latest available figure of 728,000 for the 12 months to June 2024 suggests levels are starting to decrease.
Uefa Nations League
League A:
Germany, Portugal, Belgium, Spain, France, England, Switzerland, Italy, Poland, Iceland, Croatia, Netherlands
League B:
Austria, Wales, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Ukraine, Republic of Ireland, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Northern Ireland, Denmark, Czech Republic, Turkey
League C:
Hungary, Romania, Scotland, Slovenia, Greece, Serbia, Albania, Norway, Montenegro, Israel, Bulgaria, Finland, Cyprus, Estonia, Lithuania
League D:
Azerbaijan, Macedonia, Belarus, Georgia, Armenia, Latvia, Faroe Islands, Luxembourg, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Liechtenstein, Malta, Andorra, Kosovo, San Marino, Gibraltar
Sustainable Development Goals
1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere
2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation
10. Reduce inequality within and among countries
11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its effects
14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development
Background: Chemical Weapons
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
