President Bush will hold discussions with EU leaders in Ireland tonight amid unprecedented levels of security.

During his 18 hour stopover at Dromoland Castle in the west of Ireland the president will be shadowed by thousands of police and soldiers, 700 security guards and four ships of the US Navy.

It is the biggest security operation in the history of the island.

The visit is expected to be greeted with anti-war street marches and widespread protests.

The president will fly in for the meeting before going on to a NATO summit in Turkey.

National security adviser, Condoleezza Rice said the EU talks would discuss "countering terrorism, combating the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and spreading prosperity through open and free trade".

She said the NATO summit would focus on the alliance's involvement in Afghanistan.

Asked whether the president would be pushing for NATO to get involved in Iraq, Rice pointed out that 16 alliance members were already engaged in the country.

With elections looming in the autumn, the White House is keen to drum up support for its continuing presence in Iraq.