U saopćenju na internet stranic Alijanse pred samit naznačeno je da će u Lisabonu vjerovatno biti najavljen "početak tranzicije u smislu ostvarivanja sigurnosti pod vodstvom Afganistana, i to početkom 2011. godine".
A statement on the Alliance's website ahead of the summit indicated that an announcement was likely to be made in Lisbon on "the start of a transition to Afghan-led for security, early in 2011".