US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Defence Secretary Robert Gates made the plea, echoed by NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, amid French reservations about the anti-missile system.

The ministers gathered at NATO headquarters to discuss a new "strategic concept" that will shape the 28-nation alliance's vision for the next decade to face new threats including missiles from "rogue" states and cyber assaults.

Rasmussen expressed optimism that the missile shield would be endorsed by NATO leaders at a summit in Lisbon on November 19-20, saying it was well on the way to a "consensus" following the ministerial meeting.

French Defence Minister Herve Morin hinted that France would not block the missile shield plan when NATO leaders meet in Lisbon. France, a nuclear-armed power, was at odds with Germany, which backs the missile shield plan but is also pushing for nuclear disarmament, diplomats said.

Clinton said the draft strategic concept recognizes the need for NATO "to remain a nuclear alliance as long as nuclear weapons exist" and at the same time highlights President Barack Obama's goal of a nuclear-free world.

AFP