On Tuesday evening, Chancellor Merz will host approximately 50 CEOs in Berlin to discuss European growth and competitiveness. However, this collaboration is overshadowed by significant challenges, including geopolitical tensions stemming from U.S. tariffs, the Iran conflict, and Russian aggression towards NATO. Additionally, domestic issues such as the recent failure of the Franco-German FCAS fighter jet project further complicate the situation. Claudia Major, Vice President for Transatlantic Security at the German Marshall Fund, emphasized that a fragmented Europe lacking essential military capabilities only benefits adversaries of the continent.