The 28 member states are hoping to reach a "New Strategic Concept" to shape the way NATO defends itself against threats over the next decade.

Even with serious questions about President Hamid Karzai's commitment to the military strategy in Afghanistan, NATO members plan to announce an enduring presence there beyond 2014, the new target date for handing off security control to the Afghans.

NATO members plan to offer a message of reassurance to Afghanistan that the alliance will remain engaged after security control is transferred to Afghan forces. NATO will endorse an "enduring partnership" with Afghanistan, specifically focused on developing Afghan security forces and police, officials said.

Canada has already committed more than 900 personnel to train Afghan security forces, and other nations, including the Netherlands, are expected to follow suit. But many troops from other nations will deploy to Afghanistan in noncombat roles, leaving more of the fight to the US and British contingents.

US President Barack Obama's challenge will be to urge wary NATO allies to stay the course in Afghanistan despite mixed results, growing public frustration, and the beginning of a drawdown of US troops next summer, US officials said.

Observers of the Afghan war said they will be keenly focused on Day 2 of the summit on November 20, when Karzai is set to address the 48 NATO partners who make up the International Security Assistance Force.