EU ambassadors hold emergency meeting on Trump’s Greenland tariffs
Jan. 18 (UPI) — European Union ambassadors convened in an emergency meeting Sunday following President Donald Trump‘s threat to impose tariffs on eight NATO nations who sent troops to Greenland.
Trump’s desire to purchase the Danish territory stems from his belief that such a transaction would facilitate the protection of North America and prevent China or Russia from seizing the land.
He announced potential sanctions against Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom on Saturday, following protests in Greenland’s capital, Nuuk.
Trump said that if they didn’t remove their troops from Greenland, he would impose 10% tariffs beginning Feb. 1 and 25% tariffs beginning June 1.
On Sunday, leaders met to discuss retaliatory measures against the United States.
“We stand in full solidarity with the kingdom of Denmark and the people of Greenland,” officials said in a statement. “Building on the process begun last week, we stand ready to engage in a dialogue based on the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity that we stand firmly behind.”
“Tariff threats undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral,” the statement continued. “We will continue to stand united and coordinated in our response. We are committed to upholding our sovereignty.”
Antonio Costa, the president of the European Council, said Sunday that EU officials will meet in person on Thursday as the conversation regarding their response continues.
France’s president, Emmanuel Macron, has said the EU should respond with a 2023 anti-coercion measure known as the “bazooka,” which would limit trade for American companies.
He took to X to express his dissatisfaction with Trump’s threat.
“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 said, per CNN.
The U.S.-EU trade deal also appears to be at a standstill, given the situation.
Manfred Weber, who helms European People’s Party, said such an agreement is “not possible at this stage.”
The emergency meeting comes ahead of this week’s World Economic Forum, which takes place in Davos, Switzerland, and will feature conversations about trade.
Trump is among the world leaders who will be in attendance.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent insinuated the tariffs were an emergency response.
“The national emergency is avoiding a national emergency,” he said on Meet the Press.
Republican Rep. Michael McCaul, meanwhile, said that if Trump employs the military to further his goals of acquiring Greenland, the NATO alliance could fracture.
“If he wants to purchase Greenland, that’s one thing. But for him to militarily invade would turn Article 5 o NATO on its very head, and, in essence, press a war with NATO itself,” he said, ABC reported. “It would end up abolishing NATO as we know it.”