German Chancellor Friedrich Merz plans to host the leaders of five major European powers in Berlin later this month to coordinate a strategy ahead of the NATO summit and ease growing tensions with US President Donald Trump, Bloomberg reported on Monday, June 1.
According to Bloomberg, the leaders of Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy and Poland – the so-called E5 group – will meet to assemble a package of proposals demonstrating Europe’s willingness to take on greater responsibility for its own defense.
Merz is also expected to invite NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte to the gathering, Bloomberg reported, citing unnamed sources familiar with the discussions.
The initiative comes ahead of the NATO summit scheduled for July 7-8 in Ankara, where alliance members are expected to discuss defense spending, military readiness and transatlantic security cooperation.
