Von der Leyen Calls for Activation of Europe’s Mutual Defense Clause as Security Concerns Mount
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has issued a stark directive regarding the bloc’s security architecture, declaring that the continent must be ready to defend itself “at all times.” Speaking on the urgency of strategic autonomy, she emphasized that “the time has come to bring Europe’s mutual defense clause to life,” signaling a significant pivot in how the European Union approaches military cooperation and collective security.
The appeal refers specifically to Article 42(7) of the Treaty on European Union, a provision that has historically remained in the shadow of NATO’s Article 5. The EU clause obligates member states to aid and assist “by all the means in their power” if a fellow member is the victim of armed aggression on its territory. While the clause was famously invoked by France in 2015 following the Paris terror attacks, it has largely been viewed as a political symbol rather than a functional military guarantee. Von der Leyen’s comments reflect a growing consensus in Brussels that reliance on soft power is no longer sufficient in a landscape defined by the ongoing war in Ukraine and uncertainty regarding the long-term stability of the U.S. security umbrella.
However, the push to operationalize a standalone European mutual defense pact faces substantial resistance and logistical complexities. Critics and staunch Atlanticists within the bloc warn that developing parallel EU defense capabilities risks duplicating NATO structures and potentially undermining the trans-Atlantic alliance. Several Eastern European member states, viewing American military presence as the only credible deterrent against Russian aggression, remain skeptical of Brussels’ ability to replace Washington’s hard power.
Furthermore, bringing the mutual defense clause to life presents immediate constitutional challenges for the EU’s non-aligned and neutral members, such as Ireland, Austria, and Malta. These nations have historically resisted deeper military integration, and forcing a “one-size-fits-all” interpretation of Article 42(7) could fracture political unity. As the Commission pushes to transform the EU into a sovereign geopolitical power, the success of this initiative will depend on reconciling the urgent need for collective defense with the disparate military doctrines of 27 sovereign nations.
