German Chancellor Friedrich Merz hosted leaders from five major European NATO countries in Berlin on Wednesday for preparatory talks ahead of next month’s NATO summit in Ankara, as Europe weighs how to respond to the possible reduction of US military commitments on the continent.
The meeting brought together the so-called E5 group, comprising Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy and Poland. The talks focused on how European countries can make better use of rising defence budgets, particularly by reducing duplication in arms procurement and strengthening cooperation on major defence programmes.
The discussion comes amid growing concern in European capitals that any pullback of US forces from NATO’s eastern and central European presence could create a security gap. According to a European diplomat, such a development could also increase the risk of Russian attempts to test the alliance’s resolve.
That concern has pushed a second issue up the agenda: who should represent Europe if negotiations with Russia over Ukraine and wider security arrangements eventually take place.
Politico reported that Germany, France and the United Kingdom favour the E3 format taking the lead in such talks, arguing that this is also the preference of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Italy, however, is seeking equal participation and has suggested European Council President António Costa as a possible compromise figure. Poland is also reluctant to be excluded from any process that would shape Europe’s security architecture.
The issue is further complicated by recent tensions between Poland and Ukraine over historical sensitivities linked to the naming of a Ukrainian partisan military group. That dispute has raised questions over whether Kyiv would accept Poland’s full involvement at the negotiating table.
The Berlin meeting is intended to narrow those differences before NATO leaders gather in Ankara on July 7 and 8, at a summit expected to focus heavily on burden-sharing, European defence capacity and the future of US engagement in the alliance.
Source: CNA
