2012 NATO Summit in Chicago

2012 NATO Summit logo

The 2012 Chicago Summit was a meeting of leaders of countries that are members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. It was held at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois from May 20-21, 2012.^[1]

This was the first NATO summit in the United States that was not in Washington, D.C.^[2] Chicago was chosen because it was President Barack Obama's home town. It was going to happen after the 2012 G8 summit in Chicago. The G8 summit was held at Camp David instead.

People at the summit talked about the Arab Spring, the 2011 Libyan civil war, the global financial crisis, transition for NATO forces in Afghanistan, and a missile shield system for Europe.^[3]

The summit cost the city of Chicago almost $15.6 million.

At least 38 countries around the world came to the summit. After the summit, Chicago's security system was improved.^[4]^[5]

2012 NATO Summit In Chicago Media

British Prime Minister David Cameron, Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta, President Barack Obama and NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen observe a NATO color guard prior to a moment of silence honoring those service members killed at wounded in Afghanistan at the NATO Summit in Chicago, Ill., May 20, 2012.
Afghan Minister of the Interior H.E. Minister Atmar address more than 400 coalition Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, Department of Defense civilian employees and contractors, and partner nation representatives attending the change of command and the official activation of the NATO Training Mission - Afghanistan at Camp Eggers in Kabul, Nov.
Amateur video of protest, 20 May 2012
Chicago mounted police, 2010