European E5 leaders convene in Berlin before NATO summit

The leaders of the five most militarily powerful European nations—Poland, France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom—met in Berlin on 24 June. The gathering, known as the E5, was held just before the NATO summit scheduled for 7‑8 July in Ankara, Turkey. Participants stressed the need for a stronger European role in NATO, higher defence spending and continued support for Ukraine, arguing that NATO must remain “strong and united.”

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the E5 aims to coordinate defence projects, including long‑range weapons, air‑defence and artificial‑intelligence capabilities, and to ensure a successful NATO summit. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk called for greater voice for Eastern‑flank NATO members and reaffirmed Poland’s commitment to European unity in backing Kyiv. The meeting also addressed broader security issues such as the Middle‑East situation and the framework agreement on a US‑Iran peace solution.