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.