"The security of the Baltic states is also Germany's security," Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) said as he welcomed the leaders of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania to Berlin. He was referring to a plaque on Vilnius Town Hall which reads:
"The security of Lithuania is our security. The defence of Vilnius is the defence of Berlin." The quote comes from a speech he delivered at the formation ceremony of the 45th Armoured Brigade in Lithuania in May last year.
Preparations for next week's NATO summit in the Turkish capital, Ankara, were high on the agenda. At a joint press conference, Merz said coordination with Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania "is close to our hearts and will remain so well beyond the NATO summit." He added that the summit "must be a success" by making NATO "more European so that it can remain transatlantic."
Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal said the summit "must focus on delivery."
Three priorities for the upcoming NATO summit
