ANOTHER BIG WEEK: Two events will dominate the coming week: The official rollout of the Pentagon’s budget tomorrow, and the meeting of leaders of NATO nations at the alliance headquarters in Brussels Thursday. Member countries at the meeting are expected to make commitments to send additional troops to Afghanistan, with the bulk of the reinforcements coming from the United States. Friday, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, who departs for Brussels Wednesday, said he has not yet made a recommendation to President Trump. “That recommendation is being put together by the chairman and myself, and I expect it’ll go to decision very, very soon,” Mattis told reporters at a Pentagon briefing. “But, no, it has not been made yet.”

The president, who arrives in Brussels Thursday, will be coming from his meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican. Trump will reaffirm America’s “strong commitment to NATO,” and discuss “allied responsibility-sharing and NATO’s role in the fight against terrorism,” according to a White House statement.