NATO leaders professed unity on Wednesday at a summit near London B次元官网网址� but a spat over off-the-cuff chit chat at a royal reception rattled their show of solidarity.

U.S. President Donald Trump branded the leader of AmericaB次元官网网址檚 northern neighbour B次元官网网址渢wo-facedB次元官网网址� after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appeared to gossip about Trump in comments caught on camera and microphone.

Trudeau was seen standing in a huddle with French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and BritainB次元官网网址檚 Princess Anne, daughter of Queen Elizabeth II at Tuesday eveningB次元官网网址檚 Buckingham Palace reception for NATO leaders.

After Johnson asked Macron, B次元官网网址渋s that why you were late?B次元官网网址� Trudeau could be heard saying B次元官网网址渉e was late because he takes a 40-minute press conference off the top.B次元官网网址� Trudeau confirmed that was a reference to TrumpB次元官网网址檚 long and unscheduled question-and-answer session with journalists earlier Tuesday.

Trudeau also said: B次元官网网址淵ou just watched his teamB次元官网网址檚 jaws drop to the floor.B次元官网网址� He explained Wednesday that was in reference to TrumpB次元官网网址檚 decision to hold the next Group of Seven meeting at Camp David, the presidential retreat.

Footage of the palace reception was recorded by a pool camera. The clip was posted online by Canadian broadcaster CBC and has been viewed more than 5 million times.

Speaking Wednesday at the summit venue in Watford, outside London, Trump said Trudeau was likely upset that the U.S. president had broached the fact that Canada falls short of the NATO target of spending 2% of its gross domestic product on defence.

B次元官网网址淲ell heB次元官网网址檚 two-faced,B次元官网网址� Trump told reporters. B次元官网网址淎nd honestly, with Trudeau heB次元官网网址檚 a nice guy, I find him to be a very nice guy but you know the truth is that I called him out on the fact that heB次元官网网址檚 not paying 2% and I guess heB次元官网网址檚 not very happy about it.B次元官网网址�

Trudeau had a quiet word and a handshake with Trump as he arrived at the summit Wednesday, and later tried to shrug off the episode.

B次元官网网址淎s you all know, we have a very good and constructive relationship between me and the president,B次元官网网址� Trudeau told reporters at a news conference.

Asked if the incident had given him pause for thought, Trudeau said that ensuring the focus of attention remained on matters of substance B次元官网网址渋s something that weB次元官网网址檙e all going to try to do a little harder.B次元官网网址�

Johnson, meanwhile, professed ignorance when asked by reporters about the conversation.

B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 complete nonsense,B次元官网网址� he said, adding: B次元官网网址淚 really donB次元官网网址檛 know what is being referred to there.B次元官网网址�

Leaders of the 29 NATO states met to mark the 70th anniversary of the military alliance B次元官网网址� and trying to patch up differences over defence spending, the allianceB次元官网网址檚 strategic direction and member nation TurkeyB次元官网网址檚 military action in northern Syria.

The two-day gathering ended with a show of unity, as the leaders declared their commitment to the allianceB次元官网网址檚 principle of collective defence, saying in their final declaration that B次元官网网址渁n attack against one Ally shall be considered an attack against us all.B次元官网网址�

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Rob Gillies in Toronto contributed to this report.

Jill Lawless, The Associated Press

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