Antonio Costa, the president of the European Council of EU leaders, has billed the one-day gathering as a 'retreat' devoted to defense policy rather than a formal summit

European Union leaders gather on Monday to discuss how to bolster the continent's defences against Russia and how to handle U.S. President Donald Trump after his decision to impose tariffs on goods from Canada,

EU leaders meet in Brussels with Britain's prime minister and the head of NATO to discuss enhancing Europe's defences amidst an assertive Russia and Trump's demand for increased NATO spending. Officials stress the urgency of boosting military budgets and consider funding strategies while contemplating closer ties with the UK post-Brexit.

The Taoiseach Micheál Martin will join other EU leaders for an informal meeting in Brussels which will be dominated by the EU's policy on defence, in light of Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine, as well as Donald Trump's return to the White House.