Germany’s Merz says Ankara summit will bring ‘new spirit’ to NATO

“I am confident that, starting from Ankara, we will see a new spirit within NATO—one that makes the alliance stronger and more united,” he told reporters upon arrival at the summit venue at the Turkish presidential complex.

Merz said the alliance’s European members are ready to shoulder greater responsibility and are significantly increasing defense spending to meet the targets set at NATO’s previous leaders’ summit in 2025.

“Last year in The Hague, we decided to significantly step up our defense efforts — and we have delivered,” Merz said, adding that they will review progress during their meeting with US President Donald Trump and other leaders. “We will make NATO more European so that it can remain transatlantic,” he stressed.

The German leader thanked Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is hosting the two-day summit, for his hospitality and for organizing the event as European allies and US President Donald Trump gather after weeks of tension over various defense and foreign policy issues.

Merz said NATO leaders would also discuss support for Ukraine, and that a joint initiative by European allies would pledge continued annual support of €70 billion ($80 billion) for 2026 and 2027. He noted that Europeans want a diplomatic solution to end the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, but argued this would be possible only by increasing pressure on Moscow.

“It is now entirely up to Russia to end this war; we will do everything in our power to achieve that, and we are sending a clear message to Moscow,” the chancellor said. “Russia has no chance of winning this war. They will not achieve their war aims. The sooner we end this war, the better it will be for Europe, and the better it will be for Russia—and for peace worldwide.”