Europe leaders reaffirm unity on defence ahead of Ankara NATO summit
Key takeaways
- They also offered a warm farewell to outgoing British Prime Minister Keir Starmer after he announced this week he would step down amid growing discontent in his party.
- We are strengthening its European pillar," Merz said as the leaders made brief remarks before meeting over dinner.
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European leaders met Wednesday in Berlin ahead of next month's NATO summit in Ankarai to discuss European defence and security guarantees for Ukraine, following tensions with the United States and among the main European members.
By: FRANCE 24 Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer attend a press conference at the E5 NATO Summit in Berlin on June 24, 2026. © Ebrahim Noroozi, AP European leaders reaffirmed on Wednesday their commitment to a stronger defence partnership ahead of next month's NATO summit in Ankara, following a series of spats with US President Donald Trump and tensions among the main European members.
They also offered a warm farewell to outgoing British Prime Minister Keir Starmer after he announced this week he would step down amid growing discontent in his party.