Merz spoke of a new spirit within NATO following the summit in Ankara
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated on July 8 that the NATO summit in Ankara marked a new phase of unity among allies and a greater sense of responsibility on the part of European states for the Alliance’s security. According to him, the results of the meeting exceeded expectations and demonstrated the strengthening of transatlantic cooperation.
During the closing press conference following the summit, Merz shared his personal impressions of the meeting of NATO leaders.
The chancellor drew attention to the behavior of U.S. President Donald Trump, who, he said, listened attentively throughout the entire session to representatives of all Alliance member states, including smaller countries.
“I would like to… add one personal observation. President Trump was present without exception throughout the entire meeting and remained in the room the whole time. I once again noted that he also listens attentively to representatives of smaller NATO countries, pays very close attention to what is happening even in the smaller member states, and treats this with great sympathy. In his closing remarks, he said something that personally surprised me a bit, but also delighted me: ‘There is a feeling of love in the air’ (editor’s note: ‘An atmosphere of mutual affection is in the air’),” Merz noted.
According to the chancellor, it was precisely this atmosphere that became one of the summit’s main outcomes. “I would put it even more precisely: the room was filled not only with a genuine sense of mutual affection and shared responsibility, but also with a new sense of European responsibility,” said the head of the German government.
Merz also stated that the summit’s results fully met his expectations. “My expectations for this summit in Ankara were truly more than met. I see, especially on the European side, a new momentum,” Merz noted.
The chancellor added that about a third of the participants specifically highlighted Germany’s role in strengthening the Alliance. “About a third of the speakers specifically mentioned the role of the federal government and the role of the Federal Republic of Germany. This shows that our efforts, aimed at bringing a new spirit to NATO together with Canada, are truly successful,” he said.
Read also:
Occupierslaunched a ballistic strike on Odesa; there are casualties.
As a reminder, Russian forces struck Odesa—there are casualties and infrastructure damage.
The strike on Odesa was carried out with a missile equipped with a cluster warhead.
