EU leaders vow unity amid escalating tensions
European leaders have promised a united front after US President Donald Trump threatened fresh tariffs unless Denmark agrees to sell Greenland. Brussels officials, from Ursula von der Leyen to Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, emphasized the bloc’s commitment to sovereignty and coordination, calling the threat “unacceptable” and warning it could spark a new transatlantic trade conflict.
Trump announced via social media that goods from Denmark, Sweden, Norway, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Finland, and the UK would face an extra 10% tariff starting February 1, potentially rising to 25% by June, until Greenland is “completely and totally” transferred to the United States. The announcement came after a joint European mission to Greenland, which Washington views as a challenge to its security interests.
Greenland dispute fuels fears of trade war
Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark, has become the focus of heightened rhetoric from the Trump administration, which has demanded its acquisition “the easy way or the hard way.” Danish officials pushed back, stressing that Arctic security is under Copenhagen’s control and no foreign military threats have been observed in recent years.
EU Council President António Costa and von der Leyen stressed that additional tariffs would damage transatlantic relations and risk a “downward spiral.” While the European Commission handles trade matters for the bloc, individual countries could still be targeted through tariffs on specific products or industries, raising concerns about a widening trade conflict.
Calls grow for EU to use anti-coercion measures
The dispute has renewed calls for Europe to deploy its “trade bazooka,” the anti-coercion instrument, which allows the EU to restrict market access, public tenders, and trade licenses in retaliation against coercive actions. Bernd Lange, chair of the European Parliament’s trade committee, warned that normal trade relations could not continue while the US pressures allies, calling for suspension of previous tariff reductions on American goods.
Meanwhile, Manfred Weber, leader of the European People’s Party, urged a freeze on the EU-US trade deal, saying zero tariffs on US products must be put on hold in light of Trump’s Greenland threats. European leaders have vowed to respond in a coordinated and firm manner, signaling that the bloc will not be intimidated.
