European leaders are revisiting the little‑used Article 42.7 of the Lisbon Treaty as doubts grow over President Trump's commitment to NATO. The clause obliges EU members to provide military, humanitarian and financial aid if a fellow state is attacked, a provision invoked only once after the 2015 Paris attacks. Officials gathered in Cyprus to test its practical application.

Poland's foreign minister Radoslaw Sikorski warned that without treaty reform the EU cannot finance or command joint operations, citing divergent national rules of engagement and budget constraints. Analysts note the EU’s decision‑making maze contrasts sharply with NATO’s streamlined hierarchy, raising questions about the feasibility of a pan‑European rapid response.

A tabletop exercise slated for next month aims to produce a working paper on how the EU defense clause could function in an emergency. While Britain and France push a “coalition of the willing” to support Ukraine and protect the Strait of Hormuz, central European and Baltic states fear the push could give Trump further excuse to scale back NATO involvement. The outcome will shape Europe’s strategic autonomy and defense‑industry contracts.