Merz sets E5 priorities Defence, Ukraine and Iran

Jun 24

In his complete June 24 Berlin opening statement, Friedrich Merz welcomes Macron, Meloni, Starmer and Tusk for preparations for the NATO summit in Ankara. He thanks Starmer for their cooperation and explicitly regrets his coming departure from office. He says Rutte joined the working session from Washington and that he will brief Trump, Erdoğan and other partners. Merz presents five messages: allied unity; a stronger European pillar and implementation of the Hague commitments, including raising defence spending to 3.5% and Germany's aim to reach that level in 2029; joint European and transatlantic defence policy and industrial work on air defence, standoff weapons, AI and other systems; a proposed firm European NATO funding commitment to Kyiv, sustained support and a call for Russian peace talks; and support for the U.S.–Iran framework and follow-up negotiations in Bürgenstock, with a German contribution conditional on prerequisites being met. These are his proposals, plans and assessments, rather than completed summit decisions or a verified deployment.

At the June 24 Berlin statements, the five E5 leaders advocate a stronger European role within NATO, allied coordination and closer defence industrial cooperation. Merz says defence spending will rise to 3.5%, with Germany aiming for 2029, rejects national go-it-alone policies and advocates shared work on air defence, standoff weapons and AI. Macron supports larger capabilities, budgets, deterrence and industrial partnership; Meloni emphasizes strategic resilience and Italy's AI expertise. Starmer describes a forthcoming British investment plan and calls for faster European innovation and production in coordination with the United States. Tusk stresses eastern-flank representation and greater national effort. His German-interpreted spending figure is nearly 7%, with no denominator specified in this passage. These are pledges, plans and attributed claims; the statements establish neither universal target compliance nor an adopted British plan.