Before the upcoming NATO summit in Ankara, Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) emphasized the critical importance of European cooperation. Speaking after a meeting with Latvia’s Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs, Estonia’s Prime Minister Kristen Michal, and Lithuania’s President Gitanas Nauseda, Merz stressed that maximizing coordination across Europe was essential. He added that this coordination would ensure that Europe is “well-prepared” going into the summit alongside their NATO allies.
Merz described the threat posed by Russia along NATO’s eastern flank as “very concrete.” He stated that Russia “constantly” invades NATO states’ airspace, executes “hybrid attacks via the internet,” and damages subsea cables in the Baltic Sea. He praised the Baltic states for their early recognition that actions are necessary for “our freedom, our security, and our prosperity.”
Regarding support for Ukraine, Merz affirmed that Germany has been providing the largest level of support to Kyiv globally for some time. He commended the Baltic countries for committing to allocate 0.25 percent of their gross domestic product towards aid for Ukraine. While asserting this commitment, Merz nonetheless called for Russia to enter negotiations to achieve a ceasefire along the current contact line. Finally, he underscored the deep bond between the nations, stating that “the security of the Baltics is also the security of Germany,” and that they are “closely connected.”
