Macron: Europe and US in ‘moment of reconvergence’ ahead of Ankara summit

French President Emmanuel Macron said Wednesday that Europe and the United States are experiencing a “moment of reconvergence,” pointing to growing alignment on major security issues ahead of the NATO summit in Ankara. Speaking after an E5 meeting of major European countries in Berlin — France, Germany, Italy, Poland, and the UK — Macron said recent diplomatic engagements had helped bring European and American positions closer together.

Unity on Ukraine and Iran

Macron said the process began at the recent G7 summit and continued at last week’s European Council meeting. He noted that all G7 members had signed a common text for the first time in 18 months, committing to support Ukraine’s territorial integrity, military and energy assistance, and sanctions against Russia. He also voiced support for the US-Iran agreement, saying European countries are prepared to contribute to regional stability, including in Lebanon. Macron welcomed the agreement as “a very important achievement.”

Strengthening NATO’s European pillar

Macron stressed the importance of strengthening NATO’s European pillar through higher defense spending, increased military capabilities, and deeper industrial cooperation among allies. “We are making a strong commitment, increasing our budgets, and increasing our capabilities,” he said. For Türkiye, which will host the summit and has long called for burden‑sharing reform, Macron’s remarks are welcome. Ankara also supports strengthening European defense capabilities within NATO, as long as they complement, not duplicate, the alliance’s structures.