E5 NATO Summit in Berlin to Tackle Ukraine Aid, Iran Tensions and US‑Trump Uncertainty

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will host the E5 NATO summit in Berlin on 7‑8 July, bringing together leaders of France, Italy, Poland, the United Kingdom and a video link from US President Donald Trump via Prime Minister Mark Rutte. The agenda includes continued military support for Ukraine, discussions on the Iran conflict and how NATO members share the burden of collective defence.

The summit follows recent disputes over US‑European cooperation after the G7 meeting in France, with European officials seeking to ease tensions with Washington. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte told Fox News, “When it comes to NATO, I know there are disappointments, but we must remember these are individual cases.” Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned that “Poland is an absolutely indispensable link for any serious discussion on the future of Ukraine and the region.” Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani urged Europe to appoint a single negotiator for talks with Moscow, suggesting a senior European official could fill the role.

The meeting marks the first E5 gathering since the NATO summit in The Hague in June 2025 and comes as the alliance assesses strategic stability in the Hormuz Strait and the broader Middle East.