After a reception with a guard of honour, Rasmussen will meet his host, Prime Minister Alenka Bratušek for a tete-a-tete. He is also due to hold talks with President Borut Pahor and Speaker Janko Veber.

The talks will centre on the assessment of Slovenia's cooperation and experience so far, as well as its contribution to the alliance's operations, such as those in Kosovo and Afghanistan.

Rasmussen is also expected to underscore preparations for the NATO summit in Wales on 4-5 September, which will focus on the alliance's future after 2014. He may also bring up the issue of defence spending cuts.

Slovenia will likely express its expectation for the summit to confirm NATO's open door policy by extending a membership invitation to Montenegro.

The officials are also expected to exchange their views on NATO's relations with Russia and the EU as well as the situation in the Middle East and North Africa.

After talks with Slovenia's top officials, Rasmussen will take part in a panel debate on Slovenia's past, present and future role in NATO. The event will also be addressed by Foreign Minister Karl Erjavec and Defence Minister Roman Jakič, among others.

This will be Rasmussen's third visit to Slovenia since he took over as NATO secretary general in 2009.