For the first time in NATO's history, the alliance is recognizing the challenges posed by China's rise in a summit declaration. NATO's chief said Beijing's growing military capabilities had "implications for all allies."

The NATO summit in London means a diplomatic high wire act for the British prime minister. Boris Johnson is said to be dodging Donald Trump, for fear his endorsement wouldn't go down well with voters ahead of next week's election. Plus, Hugh Grant is knocking on doors and joining the political campaign to stop Brexit.

The German parliament has passed a record budget for 2020, including defense spending that will bring it closer to the NATO 2% goal. The new budget also includes the first measures in the government's "climate package."

Macron suggests to the 'The Economist' that NATO is dead

After claims by the French president that NATO is "brain dead," German Chancellor Merkel said the military alliance is far from needing life support. She called NATO the cornerstone of German security.

Jens Stoltenberg has warned that NATO must continue its fight against IS after the US withdrawal from Syria. He welcomed Germany's call for an international presence in Syria as a possible political solution.

Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer has condemned the US and Turkey for endangering the stability of the NATO alliance. She also called on Germany to be more assertive in helping solve international conflicts.

The Ukrainian president has vowed to push his country towards EU and NATO accession. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has backed his calls for maintaining sanctions against Russia.

The US has warned the European Union that plans to boost defense cooperation within the EU could undo decades of trans-Atlantic cooperation and damage NATO. The EU's foreign policy chief said US concerns were unfounded.

The move sends a signal that the US is serious about cutting its NATO ally off from the advanced fighter jet over Turkey's planned purchase of Russia's S-400 missile system.

Poland's NATO accession in 1999 was meant to provide protection from Russia. Two decades on, a fear of its eastern neighbor remains a decisive factor in Polish politics, especially when it comes to bolstering US ties.

With NATO rattled amid pressure from Donald Trump, Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen made an appeal for the alliance in a New York Times op-ed. She described NATO as an "emotional bond" between the US and Europe.