German Chancellor Friedrich Merz hosted the leaders of the UK, France, Italy, and Poland in Berlin. The meeting aimed to strengthen Europe's common stance on defense ahead of the NATO summit to be held in Ankara next month.
Merz said the NATO summit on July 7-8 would be a moment to show Europe's determination to take a stronger leadership role in defense. 'We want to renew the alliance. We are strengthening the European pillar,' Merz said, noting that the leaders made brief statements before dinner.
A joint statement affirmed 'unwavering commitment to Euro-Atlantic security and the transatlantic bond.'
Tensions in defense projects
Behind the unity messages lie tensions among European partners on defense and security issues. Berlin and Paris saw the long-delayed FCAS joint fighter jet project shelved due to strategic and management disagreements. This highlighted the difficulties in rebuilding Europe's defense at a time when US President Donald Trump is increasingly distancing himself from NATO.
In recent months, Washington has criticized the alliance for being reluctant to support the US-Israel war against Iran and has threatened to reduce its troops in Europe.
Criticism of the E3 group
The E3 group, consisting of Germany, France, and the UK, also faced criticism from some European capitals, including Rome and Warsaw, that they kept other countries out of talks with Ukraine.
Merz, who previously emphasized that the E3 arrangement aims to enable Europe to act quickly, did not directly address the differences but stressed the goal of strengthening a common approach, including a strong partnership with the US. 'We are walking this path together,' Merz said, adding that 'unilateral national actions in our defense policy would be a mistake.'
Merz said he would speak with Trump and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, as well as other partners, to inform them about Wednesday's talks.
Warm farewell to Starmer
The leaders gave a warm farewell to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who announced his resignation this week due to growing discontent within his party. Starmer had sought to strengthen ties with Europe after the UK's decision to leave the European Union a decade ago.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said to Starmer: 'In many ways, we have become one again. Thanks to your work, it was possible to forget Brexit for a moment. I will remember this for a long time.'
