1ST LEAD Foreign ministers to sign EU-NATO deal amid uncertainty over Trump By Monica Raymunt, dpa

Brussels (dpa) - NATO foreign ministers were expected to finalize a plan on closer cooperation with the European Union on Tuesday as the threat of reduced US support for the military alliance under president-elect Donald Trump loomed.Trump triggered concern among NATO allies during his presidential campaign when he criticized meagre defence spending among alliance members and said the United States might not defend some countries during an attack.The president-elect‘s words appeared to echo in the minds of those attending two-day NATO meeting in Brussels."Questions have been asked related to the strength of the transatlantic bond," Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters at NATO headquarters."The best way to respond to those questions is to deliver stronger NATO-EU cooperation," Stoltenberg said."The real effort today is to reinforce how important NATO is," outgoing US Secretary of State John Kerry said.Ministers are due to finalize a EU-NATO agreement that was first envisioned at a summit in July by Stoltenberg, European Council President Donald Tusk and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.The 42-point plan outlines closer work in several areas, including cyberthreats and cyberwarfare, Mediterranean operations and military exercises. It requires approval from both sides, and the EU‘s 28 member states signed the deal in Brussels on Tuesday morning.The ministers‘ two-day meeting will be the last for Kerry, who is due to have bilateral talks with EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini.The ministers‘ focus is expected to turn toward the alliance‘s relations with Russia on Tuesday evening and operations in Afghanistan on Wednesday.