Key facts
- German Chancellor Friedrich Merz met with leaders of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania in Berlin.
- The leaders discussed security ahead of the NATO summit in Ankara, focusing on defense spending and support for Ukraine.
- Baltic leaders emphasized the need to translate defense spending commitments into tangible capabilities.
- Discussions included addressing Russian and Belarusian hybrid threats and strengthening NATO's eastern flank.
- Lithuania is considering lifting its constitutional ban on nuclear weapons and foreign military bases.
- Merz proposed an 'associated membership' status for Ukraine to bring it closer to the EU.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz met with the leaders of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania in Berlin to discuss regional security and preparations for the upcoming NATO summit in Ankara. Merz emphasized the interconnectedness of Baltic and German security, stating, 'The security of the Baltic states is also Germany's security.' The meeting highlighted the shared concerns regarding Russia's actions and the need for a united and stronger NATO.
Key priorities for the NATO summit included transforming defense spending commitments into tangible capabilities, ensuring alliance unity, and maintaining robust support for Ukraine. Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs outlined these as crucial points, stressing that money alone is insufficient without the right equipment and defense industry bolstering. Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the need to 'deliver' on agreed-upon investments.
The leaders acknowledged the real and present threat posed by Russia, particularly on NATO's eastern flank, citing airspace violations, cyberattacks, and damage to undersea cables. Merz noted that the Baltic states have long exceeded defense spending targets, with Estonia already investing over 5% of its GDP. Lithuania aims to spend nearly 7% of its GDP on defense this year. The Baltic states stressed that defense spending serves as a crucial form of deterrence.
Discussions also touched upon strengthening Europe's own security responsibilities within NATO. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda mentioned a potential move to lift Lithuania's constitutional ban on nuclear weapons and foreign military bases, which could enhance the country's role in NATO's nuclear deterrence against Russia. Merz reaffirmed Germany's commitment to supporting Ukraine and US efforts for peace, while also proposing an 'associated membership' for Ukraine to bring it closer to the EU, a step that Estonian and Lithuanian leaders supported as being in the EU's strategic interest.
Merz also noted Germany's commitment to reaching the 3.5% defense spending target by 2029, well ahead of schedule, and praised the Baltic states' exemplary contribution to Ukraine's assistance.