An ominous cloud hangs over the meeting of nato heads of state and government in Riga. From the start, a number of difficulties have complicated preparations for this high-level meeting.
The date for the summit was chosen at the end of last year without any apparently-compelling reason for such a top-level meeting. For a NATO gathering this is rather unusual, given they typically confirm decisions of great consequence, or mark significant occasions.
At the same time, an additional NATO summit was scheduled for 2008 as part of a farewell tour for departing United States President George Bush. This undoubtedly reduces the pressure on members to agree political decisions before Riga, since another date is already in the diary which could deal with especially controversial points. But even here there is confusion.
