WASHINGTON, Feb 20 (Reuters) - President George W. Bush's national security adviser, Stephen Hadley, will meet NATO, European and Russian officials on a trip to Brussels, Moscow and Berlin this week. The trip comes amid some tensions between Russia and the United States over NATO expansion, U.S. attempts to get NATO allies to provide more help in Afghanistan, and as the United States and its allies work to contain Iran's nuclear ambitions. Gordon Johndroe, spokesman for the White House National Security Council, said Hadley would arrive in Brussels on Wednesday for talks with NATO and European Union officials. Later in the week he will meet his national security counterparts in Moscow and Berlin. Johndroe said the trip was not confined to any one or two issues and had been planned for several weeks. "They will discuss Afghanistan, Lebanon, Kosovo, other issues in the Middle East, and a whole host of issues," he said. Bush last week called on NATO to provide additional troops and equipment when needed to ensure success in Afghanistan, and to lift restrictions on where and how their forces can fight to give commanders flexibility. Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier this month complained about NATO expansion and said the United States was making the world a more dangerous place by pursuing policies aimed at making it "one single master." The United States and its allies are attempting to coax Iran into giving up nuclear ambitions. Tehran denies trying to develop a nuclear weapon.
