Nato ministers unite . . . in song

Nato claims to be the world's strongest military alliance and it may soon add a new title: the world's most terrifying singing ensemble.

From a seemingly dour foreign ministers' dinner on the Turkish Mediterranean coast has emerged a riotous video of diplomatic revelry, showing ministers and generals hand-in-hand belting out "We Are The World" - the 1980s US pop anthem to support famine-stricken Africa.

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Bopping to the sound of Turkey's Enbe Orchestra are Mevlut Cavusoglu, the country's foreign minister turned crooner, Greece's Nikos Kotzias, Denmark's Martin Lidegaard, Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg and the EU's foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini.

A closer look reveals some unforgettable moments: lurking at the back of the stage is General Philip Breedlove, the Supreme Allied Commander Europe, gracefully making "Dad dancing" moves that will surely strike fear into the heart of the Kremlin - and embarrass his children.

Not one to miss out on the sing-along, Mr Lidegaard at one point leaps on stage, kisses Ms Mogherini and throws himself into song.

The most significant diplomatic breakthrough may have been a Greco-Turkish "peace-grip" between Mr Cavusoglu and his counterpart, Mr Kotzias.

It took a while for the ministers to put aside historical enmity and find each others hands, but eventually the pair raised their arms aloft as one, propelled by the spirit of Lionel Richie and Band Aid.

There will be many who take the video - kindly provided by the Turkish state news agency - as an opportunity to mock an alliance that prefers to project an image of military might and resolve.

But in terms of diplomatic crooning the alliance may be outshone by Vladimir Putin, who in happier times dazzled Hollywood with his polished rendition of "Blueberry Hill".

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