Europe is quietly preparing for a scenario it has long avoided — a future where NATO can no longer rely on the United States. According to reports, European Union officials in Brussels are planning high-level simulations to test how Europe would respond if a member state came under attack. At the centre of these drills is Article 42.7 of the EU treaty, which obliges member states to provide aid “by all means in their power.” The exercise reflects growing concern over strained transatlantic ties and shifting U.S. priorities.