Five NATO Members Pledge Stronger European Defence Alongside the US

Five European NATO members — France, Germany, Italy, Poland and the United Kingdom — said on Monday, October 26, that they are ready to take on greater responsibility within the alliance for the continent's security, European Pravda reported, citing France 24.

The defence ministers of the five countries, after talks in Paris on strengthening Europe's defence role, also promised to cooperate more closely with Washington.

"An indispensable ally"

"We are determined to work in close coordination with the United States and all allies to achieve this concrete goal. The United States is and will remain an indispensable ally, and continued US engagement in European security is extremely important for a strong and credible NATO," the ministers said in a joint statement.

French minister Catherine Vautrin said the five countries agreed to work on creating a "stronger Europe within an equally strong NATO" through a coordinated plan developed in "full transparency" with Washington. She said the ministers' next meeting will take place in Rome in March 2027.

Talks ahead

Media earlier reported that Russia may try to use a new round of peace talks on the Russia-Ukraine war to win concessions from NATO. A meeting of President Volodymyr Zelensky, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and representatives of the EU and US is planned for October 27–28 in Brussels. More in our Politics section.