European leaders pledged on Wednesday in Berlin to strengthen defense cooperation and demonstrate unity ahead of the upcoming NATO summit in Ankara next month. German Chancellor Merz invited leaders from the UK, France, Italy, and Poland to attend, stating that the NATO summit scheduled for July 7–8 would be a moment for Europe to show greater willingness to lead on defense. The attending leaders reaffirmed their firm commitment to European-Atlantic security and the transatlantic bond in a joint statement, while also extending farewell sentiments to UK Prime Minister Starmer, who announced this week he would resign amid escalating dissatisfaction within his party. Behind this display of unity, however, clear divisions have emerged among Europe’s major partners on defense and security issues. The long-delayed Franco-German jointly developed future air combat system fighter project collapsed due to strategic and management disputes, highlighting the difficulty Europe faces in integrating defense capabilities amid increasing U.S. detachment under Trump. Washington has recently criticized NATO for its unwillingness to support U.S.-Israel military action against Iran, threatening to reduce its troop presence in Europe. The E3 mechanism—comprising Germany, France, and the UK—has also come under criticism from other European nations like Italy and Poland, who accuse it of excluding other countries in discussions related to Ukraine. Merz did not directly address these rifts but emphasized that Europe would strengthen its common stance and maintain a robust partnership with the United States.
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