Ahead of next week’s NATO Summit in Ankara, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte have emphasized the need for a stronger, more self-reliant European defense strategy. Speaking after a German Cabinet meeting that also covered Rutte’s recent talks with US President Donald Trump, the Secretary General stressed the urgency of expanding combat readiness and “significantly strengthening our defense industry.” Merz echoed this push for unity, outlining plans to coordinate with Baltic leaders to present a united European front at the summit. Highlighting a determined increase in military spending, Merz declared, “We want to make NATO more European in general,” adding that reducing unilateral dependence on the US is “the right decision for both sides of the Atlantic.”