Joint statement from the E5 leaders following today's
meeting in Berlin.
Against the backdrop of the current threats and challenges to the
security environment, leaders of France, Germany, Italy, Poland
and United Kingdom met today in Berlin. The Secretary General of
NATO joined the meeting from Washington.
Leaders affirmed their unwavering commitment to Euro-Atlantic
security and the transatlantic bond, recognising the vital
role the US continues to play in the Alliance. They agreed to
collectively work towards a successful NATO summit in Ankara
hosted by President Erdogan on 7-8 July 2026.
They expressed their strong determination to build a
stronger Europe in a stronger NATO and to pursue their
respective defence industrial endeavors in the closest possible
cooperation.
Leaders decided to move forward in five specific areas:
-
European Leadership and Burden
Sharing: Leaders are committed to a stronger
European role within NATO with Europe taking greater
responsibility for our shared transatlantic security,
coordinating closely with the US. Leaders welcome the
significant progress made by Allies towards implementing The
Hague Defence Investment Pledge and agree to jointly develop
avenues to strengthen European contributions to Allied
capabilities.
-
Collective Security: Leaders agree to
proactively strengthen the Alliance's deterrence and defence
posture and increase contributions to NATO's deterrence
activities in order to respond to and deter the most
significant and direct threat from Russia and the most direct
asymmetric threat of terrorism to Euro-Atlantic security, in
line with our 360-degree approach. Leaders reaffirm their
fundamental commitment and determination to the security of the
Euro-Atlantic area and their determination to act timely
together should this be threatened.
-
Defense Industrial
Cooperation: Leaders recognise the
importance of closer defence industrial cooperation to deliver
NATO's capabilities, warfighting readiness and resilience
essential for deterrence and defence at the necessary speed,
scale and value. Leaders will further strengthen the defence
industrial cooperation, with a focus on air defence, unmanned
systems, AI, and other capabilities including long-range
firepower. They agree to accelerate their commitment to
European joint development and procurement of deep precision
strike capabilities. In addition to strengthening European
industrial efforts, leaders emphasised the importance of
harnessing emerging technologies underpinned by financial
mechanisms to unlock capital and investment. This includes
extending existing instruments to close critical capability
gaps and increase interoperability.
-
Support for Ukraine: Leaders are
committed to further substantially support Ukraine in its
defence against Russian aggression, including through sanctions
and economic pressure on Russia as well as support for the
resilience of Ukraine's energy sector. They support pledges in
military support at the NATO Summit and intensified
co-operation with Ukraine through NATO initiatives, including
JATEC and NSATU. They reiterate their commitment to deepening
NATO's partnership with Ukraine, bringing Ukraine closer to the
Alliance and recognizing the vital contribution Ukraine makes
to Euro-Atlantic security. Leaders are aligned regarding the
conditions for a just and lasting peace and support proposals
for direct dialogue between Ukraine and Russia with
active US and European participation.
-
United on Iran: Leaders welcomed the
US-Iran Memorandum of Understanding, secured under the
leadership of President Trump with the support of mediating
countries, and agreed this is a moment of opportunity to
restore regional stability and stabilise the global economy.
Leaders reiterated their commitment to supporting
implementation of the MoU as part of urgent and comprehensive
follow-up that delivers lasting peace. Leaders underlined that
Iran must never have a nuclear weapon. Leaders reaffirmed the
importance of unconditional and unrestricted freedom of
navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. They confirmed their
commitment to participate in the UK-France led Multinational
Military Mission as soon as conditions allow and in accordance
with their respective constitutional requirements. It could
play an important role in reassuring the shipping industry and
re-opening the Strait including through verification of
demining.
