In just a day's time, the world's spotlight will fall on Watford as world leaders gather for the NATO summit.

It's safe to say anyone who's not aware of the visit by US President Donald Trump and 28 other leaders to The Grove hotel must have been 'living under a rock' so to speak these past few weeks.

Today Trump is at Buckingham Palace, but tomorrow, he will be joined by NATO representatives from across the globe in Chandler's Cross.

The term NATO has been banded about by what does it actually mean?

Here, we answer some of those questions you may have about the organisation which is marking its 70th anniversary.

What is NATO?

The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation was formed in 1949 to prevent a resurgence of nationalism and militarism in Europe after two world wars and to deter the Soviet Union's expansion.

NATO’s purpose is to guarantee the freedom and security of its members through political and military means.

Its ranks have swelled to 29 member nations who agree to mutual defence in response to an enemy attack.

"An attack against one ally is considered as an attack against all allies," as the principle goes.

They pledged in recent years to bring defence spending to at least 2 per cent of each country's GDP by 2024.

How much does the UK spend?

The UK has met NATO's 2 per cent target every year since its introduction in 2006.

For the last seven years, the UK has been the second highest contributor to NATO, spending $60.4 billion on defence in 2018.

The US, meanwhile, has spent more than twice as much on defence as the rest of NATO combined in each of the last seven years.

Aside from the UK and the US, the other countries meeting the 2 per cent target are Greece, Poland, Latvia and Estonia.

Between 2012 and 2018, total Nato defence spending has fallen by $72.2 billion.

How does Donald Trump feel about NATO?

The US president has expressed concern about the cost of NATO and has been unhappy at how much the other 28 members contribute.

In his State of the Union address earlier this year, he said that the US had been "treated very unfairly by friends of ours, members of NATO" over a period of years.

During his presidential campaign he called the alliance "obsolete" and criticised other members whose security he thought was being subsidised by the States.

However, he has since u-turned on that stance, to the relief of many, saying: "I said it was obsolete. It's no longer obsolete."

Where do Boris Johnson and the Conservative Party stand on NATO?

At the weekend, Mr Johnson said if he wins the General Election there will be a major 'Integrated Defence, Security and Foreign Policy Review'.

He also said NATO had been the foundation of European security since 1949, adding: "We need to modernise it rather than abandon it."

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said NATO remains the "cornerstone of our European security", adding: "NATO needs to adapt to tackle new threats like cyber-attacks, as well as maintain its focus on defeating Daesh.

"But, that means all of its members paying their way, reinforcing NATO's operational capabilities, and forging an even stronger transatlantic unity of purpose."

And what about the Labour Party and Liberal Democrats?

Like the Tories, Labour has committed to renewing Trident - at a cost of no less than £31 billion - and to honouring the NATO pledge of allocating 2 per cent of GDP to defence spending.

The Lib Dems say they will build on the UK's "proud record" of international leadership through the EU, UN, NATO and the Commonwealth by promoting values of freedom and opportunity for all.