 "A man rides by on a quad bike past a row of Greenlandic national flags in Nuuk, Greenland. File image/AP")
Leaders and ambassadors from European countries are gathering in Brussels on Sunday for an emergency meeting of the European Union following US President Donald Trump’s threat to impose tariffs on multiple nations — including Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Finland — until Greenland is ceded to the United States.
Strong opposition from EU nations
Key EU members such as France, Sweden, and Germany, along with representatives of the European Parliament, have voiced firm opposition to Trump’s tariff threats and his push to bring the Danish territory under US control.
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola warned on X: “The measures against NATO allies announced today will not help in ensuring security in the Arctic. They will result in emboldening our joint enemies and those who wish to destroy our common values and way of life.”
She added, “Greenland and Denmark have both made clear: Greenland is not for sale, and its sovereignty and territorial integrity need to be respected. No threat of tariffs can or will change that fact.”
EU officials cite risks of division and economic fallout
Kaja Kallas, Vice President of the European Commission, highlighted the wider geopolitical consequences of Trump’s announcement. “China and Russia must be having a field day after Trump’s announcement. They will be the only beneficiaries of divisions among Allies,” she wrote on X.
“If Greenland’s security is at risk, we can address this inside NATO. Tariffs risk making Europe and the United States poorer and undermining our shared prosperity,” Kallas added.
France condemns US threats
France took a particularly strong stance. President Emmanuel Macron drew parallels with the Russian invasion of Ukraine, stressing Europe’s resolve: “No intimidation or threat will influence us — neither in Ukraine, nor in Greenland, nor anywhere else in the world when we are confronted with such situations,” he wrote on X.
“Tariff threats are unacceptable and have no place in this context. Europeans will respond in a united and coordinated manner should they be confirmed. We will ensure that European sovereignty is upheld. It is in this spirit that I will engage with our European partners,” Macron added.
Trump doubles down on Greenland push
These developments follow Trump’s Saturday announcement, in which he accused several European nations of “playing this very dangerous game” by sending troops to Greenland for what he described as a “purpose unknown.” The US president vowed to maintain tariffs until a deal is reached for the “complete and total purchase” of Greenland, escalating tensions between Washington and the European Union.