European Union ambassadors convened an emergency meeting on Monday following US President Donald Trump’s threat to impose tariffs on eight European nations unless they support his bid to acquire Greenland. The move has drawn sharp condemnation from European leaders, with the Dutch foreign minister branding it “blackmail”.
In a joint statement, the leaders of Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the UK warned that Trump’s tariff threat risks a “dangerous downward spiral” and “undermines transatlantic relations”. They expressed “full solidarity” with Denmark and the people of Greenland.
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said the global geopolitical order “as we know it” and the future of NATO were at stake. “Europe is stronger when we collectively show muscle,” he told a press conference in Norway. Denmark’s foreign minister is set to visit Norway, the UK, and Sweden next week to discuss Arctic security strategy.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte confirmed he spoke with Trump about the security situation in Greenland and the Arctic, adding he looked forward to seeing him at Davos later this week. Meanwhile, France’s President Emmanuel Macron is expected to urge the EU to activate its “anti-coercion instrument” – a trade “bazooka” never used before – if tariffs are imposed.
Even Trump’s allies criticised the approach. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called it a “mistake”, while former US Vice President Mike Pence said the aggressive posture threatened to fracture relations with NATO allies, though he maintained the US has a “national security interest” in controlling Greenland.
UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said the UK’s position on Greenland was “non-negotiable” and called for an “adult debate” with the US. Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to speak with Trump at the earliest opportunity, possibly at Davos.
