European Leaders Align Ahead of Ankara NATO Summit

Leaders from five major European nations gathered in Berlin to coordinate their strategies ahead of the highly anticipated NATO Summit in Ankara on July 7-8. Hosted by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, the preparatory meeting included the heads of state from France, the UK, Italy, and Poland, alongside a virtual appearance by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. The critical discussions heavily focused on ensuring continued support for Ukraine, navigating the Iranian issue, and balancing defense burden-sharing among allied nations. Emphasizing a unified front, Chancellor Merz stated, “We want to turn this important summit into a success together,” adding that he plans to brief Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and US President Donald Trump on the talks.