Leaders of EU member states have agreed to develop a plan for implementing Article 42.7 of the Treaty on European Union — the mutual assistance clause in case of an attack, Reuters reports. The decision was made at a summit in Cyprus against the backdrop of growing doubts about the reliability of NATO.
The move was prompted in part by statements from U.S. President Donald Trump, who criticized allies for insufficient support in the war with Iran, as well as his earlier threats to assert control over Greenland.
Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides said the European Commission will prepare a “roadmap” outlining actions in case a member state invokes Article 42.7. The document is expected to define specific mechanisms of assistance, including which countries would respond, in what order, and what resources could be mobilized.
Unlike Article 5 of NATO — considered the cornerstone of collective defense in Europe — the EU mechanism still lacks detailed military procedures and structures. It has been invoked only once in history: by France after the Paris attacks.
Interest in developing this provision intensified after a drone attack on a British airbase in Cyprus during the war with Iran. At the same time, several EU countries emphasize that the initiative is not intended as an alternative to NATO.
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda stated that NATO’s Article 5 remains the “cornerstone” of collective defense. EU officials also note that the bloc’s tools — sanctions, financial, and humanitarian assistance — can complement the alliance’s military capabilities.
According to agency sources, the planning process is considering a range of scenarios, from hybrid threats to direct military attacks, including situations where both EU and NATO mechanisms could be activated simultaneously.
Political analyst Ivan Preobrazhensky told The Insider that discussions about independent EU defense have been ongoing for years and that real steps are already being taken. However, he считает преждевременным говорить о распаде НАТО, поскольку ни Европа, ни США не способны вести масштабную войну в одиночку.
“Rumors within the EU about creating an independent defense union have circulated for a long time, but the EU has not even established a common army yet. At the same time, France has reached agreements with some of the most militarily capable countries — such as Germany, Poland, and others — on jointly financing its nuclear program and is prepared, without U.S. involvement, to extend a nuclear umbrella over the EU.
In reality, the process is already underway, but its signs should not be sought within NATO, where for now there are mainly disputes and tensions between Trump and other alliance members.
As for whether Europe could wage a war without U.S. participation, it is a question of scale. The Iraq War showed that even the United States cannot conduct large-scale wars without the support of European countries. Therefore, it is at the very least premature to talk about the collapse of NATO.
Despite Trump’s pressure tactics, the EU and the United States need each other.”
