EU Leaders Unite Against Threats
European leaders have vowed a coordinated response after US President Donald Trump threatened to impose fresh tariffs on eight European countries unless Denmark agrees to sell Greenland. Ursula von der Leyen, Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasized that Europe would remain “united, coordinated and committed” to defending its sovereignty, warning that the proposed tariffs risked destabilizing transatlantic relations.
Trump’s announcement on social media set a 10% tariff on goods from Denmark, Sweden, Norway, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Finland, and the UK starting February 1, with the possibility of increasing to 25% by June. The tariffs are linked directly to Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark, and follow a joint European mission to the island aimed at Arctic cooperation.
Rising Tensions Over Greenland
The Trump administration has taken a hardline stance, claiming Greenland must be transferred to the US for national security “the easy way or the hard way.” Danish officials pushed back, noting there has been no Chinese military presence in Greenland for over a decade. European countries that joined Denmark in its Arctic mission now face tariff threats, prompting sharp criticism from EU leaders.
French President Macron said Europe would not be intimidated, while Swedish Prime Minister Kristersson declared the bloc would not be blackmailed. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen expressed surprise at the reaction, noting the mission’s purpose was to enhance Arctic security, not provoke conflict.
Calls for Strong EU Countermeasures
The dispute has reignited calls for Europe to activate its trade “bazooka,” the anti-coercion instrument designed to counter political pressure via trade. Adopted in 2023, it allows the EU to block access to public procurement, limit trade licenses, and restrict entry to the single market.
Bernd Lange, chair of the European Parliament’s trade committee, said normal business could not continue while the US uses trade as a tool for political coercion. Manfred Weber, head of the European People’s Party, called for freezing the EU-US deal on zero tariffs for US goods, arguing that Trump’s threats have crossed a new line and demand a firm response.
