European Union leaders are convening in Brussels for their final summit of the year, focusing on security threats from external sources. Discussions will include European resilience against potential attacks, increased defense budgets, and the need for EU member states to collaborate more closely. As the EU seeks to reduce reliance on the United States for defense, proposals for a stronger European defense industry and potential joint borrowing to support military needs will be debated. Leaders emphasize the urgency of these strategies amid growing pressures from countries like China and Russia.