EPC summit: Europe has 'gotten the message' from Trump

Key Points:

• At the EPC summit in Armenia, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte stated that Europe has "heard" Washington's frustration over the Iran conflict and is "stepping up" its defense efforts, responding to US troop withdrawal announcements.
• Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni opposed a US troop withdrawal from Italy, contrasting with the announced pullback from Germany, despite tensions with President Trump over Italy's limited military support in the Iran war.
• UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer acknowledged "tension" with the US regarding Europe's reluctance to join the Iran conflict but emphasized the importance of unity among European countries and committed to supporting Ukraine with a €90 billion EU loan.
• Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz's visit to Armenia marks the first high-level Turkish presence there since 2013, signaling a potential thaw in historically strained relations amid ongoing regional conflicts.
• Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney became the first non-European leader to attend the EPC, highlighting Canada's efforts to diversify diplomatic ties and its recent inclusion in the EU's defense financing scheme.