The European Union is set to enhance its collective defense protocols as concerns grow over the United States' commitment to NATO, particularly under President Donald Trump. During a summit in Cyprus, EU leaders will develop an operational plan that utilizes the bloc's military and security assets in times of crisis. They will conduct table-top exercises in mid-May to explore the application of Article 42.7 of the EU treaties, which mandates member states to assist one another in the event of armed aggression. This article has been invoked only once before, following the 2015 terror attacks in Paris. Unlike NATO's Article 5, which requires a collective military response, Article 42.7 allows for various forms of assistance and respects the neutrality of some EU members. The urgency for these preparations has increased amid rising tensions in Ukraine and the Middle East, as well as doubts about US security commitments. Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides emphasized the need for clarity on how member states would respond if this article were triggered.