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With NATO's article 5 (and NATO itself) now in doubt, the EU is trying to shore up its own mutual defence clause: Article 42.7. It is a vaguely defined provision of the 2009 Lisbon Treaty - purposefully so. 🇬🇧🇵🇱 and others insisted on diluting it so as not to undermine NATO (more on that in my book).

euractiv.comEU prepares mutual defence clause trigger | EuractivNATO’s Article 5 has instant brand recognition while Article 42.7 remains a Lisbon Treaty obscurity – a state of affairs the EU aims to change

Dave Keating

@davekeating.substack.com

1 Apr

Nevertheless, the EU's Article 42.7 is a base that can be built upon to create 🇪🇺 defence union. Cyprus, (holds rotating 🇪🇺Council presidency) is pushing for the EU to fully spell out when and how it can be triggered, and what mutual defence obligations come from that, within the next two months.

Dave Keating

@davekeating.substack.com

In my new book The Owned Continent, I trace the history of Europe's efforts to create independent defence over the past decades and detail how Washington, with the dutiful assistance of London on the inside, blocked it. It's incredible Article 42.7 was able to sneak in at all. theownedcontinent.eu

1/4/26, 7:44 am8 reposts17 likes

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