Europe Mulls What Mutual Defense Looks Like Outside NATO
The New York Times • • world
Key Points:
- European countries are increasingly questioning President Trump's commitment to NATO and are considering relying more on the European Union’s Article 42.7 for collective defense.
- Article 42.7 of the EU Treaty of Lisbon requires member states to provide military, humanitarian, and financial aid if a member is attacked, but it has been invoked only once, by France after the 2015 Paris attacks.
- Concerns over the Trump administration’s threats to leave NATO and disagreements over support for the Iran conflict are prompting Europe to explore defense options with less reliance on the U.S.
- EU leaders recently discussed Article 42.7 during an informal meeting in Cyprus and plan to conduct a practical exercise next month to evaluate its effectiveness.
- Some officials, like Poland’s Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, remain skeptical about the practicality and reliability of the EU’s mutual defense clause.
