The European Union tests its defense capability against external threats, without the help of the USA.

The European Union is preparing to test, for the first time, the defense capability of member states in the face of potential military aggression, in the context of tensions with the United States. The exercise, scheduled for May, will evaluate the mutual assistance clause in the EU Treaty, Article 42-7, which obliges states to support each other in the event of an attack. This initiative was generated by Donald Trump's statements regarding the withdrawal of the US from NATO and by Iranian drone attacks on Cyprus. The simulation will focus on a complex hybrid attack, testing the response speed of the 27 member states. Ursula von der Leyen, the head of the European Commission, emphasizes the importance of strategic autonomy and reducing dependence on the US, without wanting to affect relations with NATO. It is important to mention that Article 42-7 is not a mutual defense clause, but one of mutual assistance.