US President Donald Trump’s threat of sanctions against the European countries that reject any American claim to Greenland has prompted a coordinated response from European countries.
The Europeans vowed to uphold their backing for Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark, and Denmark’s sovereignty.
Trump renewed his threat on Saturday, warning that eight European allies would face escalating tariffs if a deal is not reached for Washington to “buy” the Arctic territory.
He said eight NATO members’ goods sent to the US will face the tariffs “until such time as a Deal is reached for the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland.”
The proposed tariffs would target Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, and Finland.
European leaders were quick to react to Trump’s latest threat, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU Council President Antonio Costa saying in a joint statement that the 27-member bloc “stands in full solidarity with Denmark and the people of Greenland.”
“Europe will remain united, coordinated, and committed to upholding its sovereignty,” they wrote in a post on X, adding that Trump’s threats “would undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral.”
In a separate post, French President Emmanuel Macron called the US leader’s latest threat “unacceptable.”
“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.
The French leader said European countries “will respond in a united and coordinated manner should they be confirmed. We will ensure that European sovereignty is upheld.”
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer took a similar stance, warning that “applying tariffs on allies for pursuing the collective security of NATO allies is completely wrong.” His Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni also described the threat as an “error.”
Meloni said she had already had a phone conversation with Trump and told him she “doesn’t agree” with the idea of imposing tariffs against countries that contribute to Greenland’s security.
An emergency meeting of EU ambassadors will also take place in Brussels on Sunday in response to Trump’s threats regarding Greenland.
Trump claims that the semi-autonomous territory of NATO member Denmark is vital to US security because of its strategic location and mineral deposits, and has not ruled out using force to take it.
In a social media post Saturday, he openly admitted that the US needed possession of Greenland to counter what he called Chinese and Russian threats in the Arctic.
Thousands of protesters in Denmark and Greenland took to the streets on Saturday, calling for Trump to leave the Arctic island to determine its own future.
Denmark’s foreign minister said he will visit Oslo on Sunday to discuss the need for NATO countries to boost their coordination, presence and deterrence in the Arctic.
“What our countries have in common is that we all agree that NATO’s role in the Arctic must be strengthened, and I look forward to discussing how,” Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said in a statement.
Sweden also announced on Saturday that it had begun intensive discussions with other EU countries, as well as Britain and Norway, to coordinate a response.
“We will not let ourselves be blackmailed,” Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said.
Finland’s president, Alexander Stubb, urged NATO allies to resolve their differences through discussion, not pressure. He said, “Dialogue with the United States continues.”
Meanwhile, Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere claimed there was broad agreement in NATO to strengthen security in the Arctic. “Threats have no place among allies. Norway’s position is firm: Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark.”
Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez also warned that any military action by the US against Denmark’s Arctic island would damage NATO.
Source: Press TV
