Group 1 - Trump's return to the White House has led to a significant shift in the U.S. attitude towards Europe, moving away from the previous administration's efforts to maintain a united Atlantic alliance [1] - NATO data indicates that only 23 member countries are expected to meet the 2% defense spending target in 2024, while Trump has proposed increasing this to 5%, putting pressure on countries like the Baltic states [3] - Lithuania has taken proactive measures by expanding its defense line by 30 miles and implementing various defensive strategies in response to perceived threats from Russia [3] Group 2 - Trump's defense demands were formalized at the NATO summit in June, where member countries agreed to gradually increase military spending to 5%, causing financial strain on European nations already facing economic difficulties [7] - In January, Trump criticized the EU for profiting too much from the dollar and imposed a 20% tariff on EU industrial products, particularly automotive parts, further straining economic relations [9] - The EU is facing a significant reduction in natural gas supplies from Russia, projected to drop to 28 billion cubic meters by 2025, which constitutes only 13% of total demand, forcing the EU to turn to LNG imports [9] Group 3 - The EU has recognized the need for greater independence in defense and has proposed building an independent defense system by 2030, while also seeking to strengthen ties with China to navigate the geopolitical landscape [13] - The economic and military pressures from the U.S. and Russia have led to a decline in the EU's economic growth, complicating the region's strategic decisions [11][13] - The EU's internal discussions reveal a divided opinion on whether to reject exemptions from energy sanctions against Russia, highlighting the complexities of the current geopolitical situation [11]