Five NATO nations agree to take greater role in European security

Defense ministers from five NATO countries agreed to take greater responsibility for European security while emphasizing the indispensable role of the United States in the alliance, following a meeting of the E5 group in Paris. France, Germany, Italy, Poland, and Britain committed to increasing their contributions to collective defense and working in close coordination with Washington. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stressed the need to modernize European armed forces, while ministers reaffirmed support for Ukraine without announcing new financial commitments. The meeting occurred amid Western intelligence warnings of heightened Russian hybrid threats. British Defense Secretary Wes Streeting said allies would support Ukraine as long as needed, while Ukrainian Defense Minister Yevhenii Khmara urged partners to transfer 10% of their interceptor stockpiles. The next E5 meeting is planned for Rome in March 2027.