Emmanuel Macron has hit back at Donald Trump’s latest threats to impose tariffs on countries opposing his Greenland ambitions, insisting that “no amount of intimidation” will change European nations’ course. The US president announced 10% tariffs on eight European countries from 1 February, with a further 25% tariff from 1 June.
The French president’s message was echoed by Sweden’s prime minister, Ulf Kristersson, who warned the EU would not be “blackmailed” by Trump, and Norway’s Jonas Gahr Støre, who said “threats have no place among allies”. Their comments came after EU leaders issued a joint statement saying tariffs “would undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral”.
EU ambassadors are expected to hold an emergency session on Sunday, while MEPs have threatened to pause ratification of the US trade deal next week. Manfred Weber, head of the European People’s party, said they would have to pause the legal rubber-stamping process.
The tariffs target Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands and Finland – countries that have been most vocal against Trump’s intention to take over Greenland. European leaders, gathered in Paraguay to sign their biggest trade deal ever with the Mercosur alliance, were taken by surprise by Trump’s Truth Social post, in which he said the tariff would be payable “until such time as a Deal is reached for the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland”.
Macron called the threats “unacceptable”, saying they had “no place” in a context where Europe was defending Greenland and where Denmark was an EU member, Nato ally and UN charter signatory. He reaffirmed France’s commitment to sovereignty and independence, citing support for Ukraine and the decision to join Denmark’s exercise in Greenland. “No intimidation or threats will influence us, whether in Ukraine, Greenland or anywhere else in the world,” he said.
Denmark sought to lower the temperature, with foreign minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen citing “constructive” talks with Marco Rubio and a pledge to step up Arctic security with Nato partners. Mikkel Runge Olesen, a senior researcher at the Danish Institute for International Studies, described the tariff threat as a “negotiating tactic”, noting that it matched the countries that had sent troops to Greenland.
