Paris Summit 2026: 10 Nations Launch Anti-Ballistic Missile Coalition, Bulgaria Refuses to Join

On July 13, 2026, leaders from more than 25 countries gathered in Paris for the Coalition of the Willing summit, co-chaired by French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attending . The meeting produced several concrete military commitments—and one notable refusal.

Ten Nations Launch the Integrated Anti-Ballistic Missile Coalition

The summit's centerpiece was the establishment of the Integrated Anti-Ballistic Missile Coalition (ABC). Ten countries—Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom—signed a joint declaration to develop a shared ballistic missile defense capability for Europe .

The founding nations stated that their goal is to "build a shared ballistic missile defense capability for Europe" and to create "an integrated missile defence architecture to deter and defeat future missile threats" . The coalition will draw on Ukraine's combat experience from over four years of war against Russia's full-scale invasion . The declaration keeps the ABC "open to other nations that share its principles and objectives" . NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte attended the summit .

New Military Exercises in Neighboring Countries

President Macron announced that the multinational force being planned for Ukraine—the Multinational Force for Ukraine (MNFU)—will conduct its first joint military exercises in countries neighboring Ukraine in the coming months . Macron stated that the drills are designed to "validate our deployment plans and demonstrate that participating nations are prepared to act" by land, air, and sea . The force would only be fully deployed on Ukrainian soil after a ceasefire is reached . Macron had previewed these new defense initiatives and joint military exercises ahead of the summit .

Other Key Outcomes

Expanded Coalition Membership

The Coalition of the Willing, originally launched by France and the UK, has expanded to include at least 25 heads of state and government, with the overall coalition growing to 37 member states after the Paris meeting . Two new members—Moldova and North Macedonia—participated for the first time .

Increased Weapons Deliveries

The summit's co-chairs' statement agreed to "increase the delivery of air defence systems and interceptors, and long-range capabilities" to Ukraine . The statement also committed to intensifying pressure on Russia, including through a planned 21st package of EU sanctions .

Rafale Fighter Jet Roadmap

Macron announced a roadmap for Ukraine's acquisition of 16 Rafale fighter jets, with the first aircraft expected to be operational by 2028–2029 . He also said Ukraine would acquire "an initial batch of next-generation SAMP/T batteries" .

Security Guarantees

The summit broadened discussions on security guarantees for Ukraine and the formation of the multinational force that could deploy after a ceasefire .

Which Country Broke Ranks?

Bulgaria was the only invited EU and NATO member state to refuse participation. Prime Minister Rumen Radev stated publicly that he received a personal invitation from President Macron for Bulgaria to join the Coalition of the Willing, but declined, saying: "We are not taking part in a coalition pushing for continued financial and military aid to Ukraine" . This made Bulgaria the notable holdout among the countries invited to the expanded coalition.