The European Union’s top official did not hesitate in her warnings about President Donald Trump’s threat to impose new tariffs on countries that oppose his push for the U.S. to acquire Greenland, a semi-autonomous Danish territory.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called Trump’s threats “a mistake” and questioned the US’s reliability. She said the July EU-US trade deal “had to mean something”.
“Security in the Arctic can only be achieved together. That is why the proposed additional tariffs are a mistake, especially between long-standing allies. The EU and the US agreed a trade deal last July. And in politics as in business, a deal is a deal. And when friends shake hands, it must mean something,” Von der Leyen said.
“We consider the people of the United States not only as our allies, but also as our friends. And plunging into a dangerous downward spiral would only help the adversaries we both desperately want to keep out of the strategic landscape,” she added, vowing that the EU’s response would be “unwavering, united and proportionate.”
MOST AMERICANS SAY ‘NO’ TO TAKEOVER OF GREENLAND, EVEN SPLITTING REPUBLICANS: POLL
Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen criticized US President Donald Trump’s threats to impose tariffs on countries that defy his proposed US takeover of Greenland. (Harun Ozalp/Anadolu via Getty Images; Yuri Gripas/Abaca/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
French President Emmanuel Macron also discussed the issue in Davos, saying the tariffs could force the EU to use its anti-coercion mechanism against the US “for the very first time”. The Associated Press reported. The newspaper noted that he argued that allied countries should focus on bringing peace to Ukraine and ending the nearly four-year war with Russia.
Trump has announced on Saturday that starting Feb. 1, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, Britain, the Netherlands and Finland will face a 10% tariff on all goods imported into the U.S. The rate will then be increased to 25% on June 1. The president added that “this tariff will be due and payable until an agreement is reached for the complete and total purchase of Greenland.”
The president doubled down on his argument that U.S. control of Greenland was necessary to protect national security and U.S. interests, saying the takeover would be critical to the development of the Golden Dome, an advanced missile defense system intended to intercept threats against the U.S. homeland.
People take part in the ‘Hands Off Greenland’ protest, held under the slogans ‘Hands Off Greenland’ and ‘Greenland for Greenlanders’, after the White House said the US was considering a range of options to acquire Greenland, including the use of military force, in Copenhagen, Denmark, January 17, 2026. (Ritzau Scanpix/Emil Helms/via Reuters)
US CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION VISITS DENMARK Amid Backlash Over TRUMP’s Push to ACQUIRE GREENLAND
The Trump administration’s rhetoric on Greenland has caused friction between the US and some of its allies, who warn that annexing the territory could burn diplomatic bridges. On Tuesday, however, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said U.S. relations with Europe remain strong and encouraged trading partners to “take a deep breath,” the AP reported.
Leaders from Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Britain issued a joint statement Tuesday reaffirming their commitment as NATO members to “strengthen security in the Arctic as a shared transatlantic interest.” They also expressed their solidarity with Denmark and Greenland.
“Tariff threats undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral. We will remain united and coordinated in our response. We are committed to upholding our sovereignty,” the statement said.
Some European countries have recently tried to flex their muscles with a brief troop deployment to Greenland. France, Germany, Sweden and Norway took part in a two-day exercise to strengthen the defense of Danish territory amid Trump’s threats. Germany deployed a reconnaissance team of thirteen men, France sent fifteen mountain specialists, and Sweden, Norway and Great Britain sent three, two and one officers respectively. to Reuters.
Visitors attend the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, January 20, 2026. (Ludovic Marin/AFP via Getty Images)
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In text messages that Trump published on Truth Social, Macron proposed a meeting of the Group of Seven (G7) countries in Paris after the Davos conference. The AP reported that an official close to Macron confirmed the authenticity of the text exchange. As of January 20, no such meeting had been announced.
