European leaders have strongly condemned US President Donald Trump’s threat to impose tariffs over their opposition to his designs on Greenland, warning that such moves could strain transatlantic relations.
Several countries — including Denmark, the Arctic island’s sovereign state — emphasized their unity against Trump’s vow on Saturday to levy tariffs of up to 25 percent unless Greenland is ceded to the United States.
“Tariff threats undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral,” said Britain, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden in a joint statement.
The European Union, which reached a July deal with Washington to face a 15-percent levy on most EU exports, convened an extraordinary meeting of its ambassadors in Brussels on Sunday. French President Emmanuel Macron indicated he would push the EU to activate a never-before-used “anti-coercion instrument” if the US follows through. This trade “bazooka” allows the bloc to restrict imports of goods and services into its 27-member market of 450 million people.
Trump has repeatedly expressed interest in acquiring Greenland, citing US national security concerns and claiming Denmark — a NATO ally — would struggle to defend the island against Russia or China. In response, Denmark and several NATO allies recently conducted joint military exercises in Greenland, which included US participation.
The threat has sparked protests in both Greenland and Denmark, with demonstrators wearing caps reading “Make America Go Away,” a play on Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan.
Trump responded with a plan to impose 10-percent tariffs starting February 1 on goods from Britain, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Finland, rising to 25 percent from June 1 “until such time as a Deal is reached for the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland,” he wrote on Truth Social.
Even Trump’s European allies criticized the move. Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called it a “mistake,” Dutch Foreign Minister David van Weel described it as “inexplicable blackmail,” and UK Culture Minister Lisa Nandy called the threat “wrong” and “counterproductive.”
France also warned that the US could suffer from its own tariff escalation, with Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard noting the risk to American farmers and industry. Norway, targeted by the threat but outside the EU, said it was currently not planning retaliation.
Denmark’s Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen announced plans to meet with Norway, Britain, and Sweden to discuss NATO’s Arctic security policy in the coming days.
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