Security beefed up in Brussels ahead of NATO summit
US President Donald Trump's visit to Brussels comes amid tight security measures as the US president attends a NATO summit.
About 2,000 Belgian police officers have been deployed to the capital, and the US presidential protection team has also sent several hundred special security personnel to Belgium to protect the president.
US President Donald Trump, who is currently on his first foreign trip as US president, has so far visited Saudi Arabia, Israel, and the Vatican, and after meeting with Pope Francis, the leader of the world's Catholics, he arrived in Brussels.
According to Belgian newspapers, the airport was closed for a short time after President Trump's plane landed at Brussels Airport. The roads surrounding the airport were also closed to allow the presidential motorcade to pass through, as the president's team entered the city.
Unlike Barack Obama, President Trump will not be staying in a hotel while in Brussels.
Traffic restrictions have been imposed in some parts of the capital on Wednesday and Thursday, coinciding with the US President's visit to Brussels.
These areas include the area around the Royal Palace, NATO headquarters, European Union buildings, the Brussels Hotel, and several surrounding streets.
Only local residents, delegations participating in the summit, security forces, and people with special access cards are allowed to pass through these areas.
The US President meets with King Philippe of Belgium and Belgian Foreign Minister Charles Michel in Brussels.
The meetings are scheduled at the US embassy in Brussels. He will then attend a NATO summit at the European Union headquarters. US Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis will accompany the president to the NATO summit.
On the sidelines of the summit, the US president will also meet with French President Emmanuel Macron. After attending the summit, President Trump will leave Brussels for Sicily to attend the G7 summit.
First Lady Melania Trump, however, has a very different plan for her trip to Brussels, focusing more on cultural events. Mrs. Trump is scheduled to visit the René Magritte Museum in Brussels.
Belgian newspapers have reported that opponents of Mr. Trump's presence in Brussels have planned several demonstrations and rallies.
A terrorist attack in Manchester, England, on Monday night left 22 people dead. However, Belgian authorities say they have taken all necessary security measures ahead of US President Donald Trump's visit to Brussels and there is no need to raise the security alert level across the country or deploy more police forces.
The mayor of Brussels said on Tuesday: "Maximum security measures have been taken on the eve of the NATO summit and all possible scenarios have been considered."
Ivan Mayor emphasized that since last year's terrorist attacks on the Brussels airport and metro, systematic measures have been designed and implemented, and security measures are currently being implemented at the highest possible level.
The security alert level across Belgium has been at level 3 since last year's attacks and will remain at that level, according to Belgian security officials.
Source: Voice of America
