EU Seeks to Strengthen Own Defense as NATO Doubts Grow
European Union leaders have called for a concrete plan detailing how the bloc's mutual assistance clause, Article 42.7 of the Treaty on European Union, would function in practice. The push reflects growing doubts about the US commitment to NATO, particularly following criticism from President Trump and disputes with allies.
Unlike the better-known NATO Article 5, the EU clause has no clearly defined mechanisms or military structures. It has been invoked only once, following the terrorist attacks in France in 2015.
The EU is now preparing scenarios for responding to a range of threats, including hybrid and conventional attacks. The debate has gained fresh urgency following a recent incident in Cyprus, where a drone struck a British military base. Some member states, however, stress that NATO must remain the cornerstone of collective defense.