European Union ramps up crisis testing, convinced that Trump’s security priorities lie elsewhere

The European Union is intensifying efforts to test its crisis response rules, as concerns grow over the U.S. commitment to NATO under President Trump. At a summit in Cyprus, EU leaders will develop an operational plan to utilize military, security, and trade policies during crises. In May, EU envoys will conduct exercises to explore Article 42.7, which allows collective assistance if a member nation is attacked. This article, similar to NATO’s Article 5, was used once after the 2015 Paris attacks. With doubts about U.S. support and Ukraine’s EU future, these preparations are urgent. The exercises focus on decision-making, not military action, and reflect Europe’s need to ensure its own security. QUESTION: How might the EU’s increased focus on self-reliance in security impact its relationship with the United States and NATO?