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![\"European](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/nato\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/6a3cb0fcfa2a9f2956368bc5.jpg\")
<\/p>\n BERLIN
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Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer attend a press conference at the E5 NATO Summit in Berlin, Germany, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (AP Photo\/Ebrahim Noroozi)<\/p>\n
The leaders of Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Italy and Poland have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening NATO<\/a> ahead of the alliance\u2019s summit in Ankara<\/a> next month.<\/p>\n German Chancellor Friedrich Merz hosted French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and outgoing British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Berlin for a meeting of the European Group of Five, or E5.<\/p>\n \u201cWe want to work together to make this important summit a success. This serves our security in dangerous times,\u201d Merz said after the meeting.<\/p>\n He said a successful summit would strengthen transatlantic relations with the United States while bringing European allies closer together.<\/p>\n \u201cTogether, we stand for a NATO that, strong and united, safeguards security in the Euro-Atlantic region in the interest of all allies,\u201d Merz said.<\/p>\n The German leader said the five countries also wanted to renew the alliance by strengthening its European pillar, with higher defense spending forming the basis for a more balanced transatlantic partnership.<\/p>\n \u201cGoing it alone in our defense policy would be a mistake,\u201d Merz said, adding that Germany wanted its neighbors to feel more secure.<\/p>\n The leaders also agreed on the need to send a strong signal of support for Ukraine.<\/p>\n Merz said European NATO allies should make a firm financial commitment to Kyiv, adding that the message to Russia was that \u201cUkraine remains strong\u201d and Europe\u2019s support is \u201cunwavering.\u201d<\/p>\n The E5 leaders also welcomed a framework agreement for a peaceful resolution between the United States and Iran.<\/p>\n NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte joined the working session by video conference.<\/p>\n Merz said he would brief U.S. President Donald Trump, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo\u011fan and other partners on the results of the Berlin meeting.<\/p>\n The NATO leaders\u2019 summit is scheduled to be held in Ankara on July 7-8.<\/p>\n