US President George W. Bush set the stage for a clash at his last Nato summit today by pressing reluctant west European allies to set former Soviet republics Georgia and Ukraine on a path to membership.
He also urged allies to follow the example of France and host nation Romania in providing extra troops for Nato's battle against Islamist insurgents in Afghanistan.
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"If we do not defeat the terrorists in Afghanistan, we will face them on our soil," he said in a keynote speech, hours before leaders of the 26-nation defence alliance were to open a three-day summit in Bucharest.
Mr Bush said the West should reward democratic revolutions in Ukraine and Georgia by giving both countries a prospect of joining Nato, although Russia has opposed this.
"My country's position is clear - Nato should welcome Georgia and Ukraine into the Membership Action Plan," he said. "The Cold War is over. Russia is not our enemy. We are looking to a new security relationship with Russia."
Looking ahead to a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the weekend, Mr Bush said there could be an unprecedented level of strategic cooperation with Moscow on missile defence and arms control.
France and Germany, backed by several smaller countries, have said neither Ukraine nor Georgia yet meets NATO's criteria and the decision would be an unnecessary provocation to Moscow just before President-elect Dmitry Medvedev takes office.
At stake is whether Nato pushes its European borders right up to the frontiers of Russia, with the exception of Belarus, or leaves a strategic buffer zone as the Kremlin wishes.
Diplomats said the issue would be thrashed out at an opening summit dinner, when Mr Bush will meet French President Nicolas Sarkozy, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and fellow leaders.
Since the decision requires unanimity, Washington would probably have to settle for a "road map" to closer cooperation with Ukraine and Georgia and a commitment to review the issue at next year's 60th anniversary summit, they said.