Europe shows an unusually strong willingness to take a chance on a tit-for-tat economic conflict with the United States. Brussels: On Sunday, Europe launched a rare, coordinated response to US President Donald Trump’s threats of punitive tariffs, which further widened the transatlantic divide over Greenland. The eight nations directly targeted by the proposed tariffs—Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom—issued a joint statement expressing “full solidarity” with Denmark and Greenland in the most coordinated response to date, according to news agency.
They promised a “united and coordinated” reaction to protect sovereignty and cautioned that the US action may cause a “dangerous downward spiral” in transatlantic relations. The European Union (EU) is “ready to defend itself against any form of coercion” in reaction to Trump’s tariff threats, according to European Council President Antonio Costa on X. National responses were prompt and clear, with European ministers and leaders denouncing the US ultimatum as intolerable and coercive. David van Weel, the foreign minister of the Netherlands, specifically referred to the levies as “blackmail,” pleading with Washington to revoke the “ridiculous proposal” before to its implementation.A boundary has been crossed. Berlin “must not allow itself to be intimidated,” according to German Vice Chancellor and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil, who also stated that “a line has been crossed.”
Mette Frederiksen, the prime minister of Denmark, declared on social media that “Europe will not be blackmailed.” She emphasized the widespread support for Denmark by stating that this is now “an issue that reaches far beyond our own borders.”
At the EU level, there was a pushback
The president of the European Parliament’s Renew Europe group, Valerie Hayer, called on EU leaders to activate the bloc’s “Anti-Coercion Instrument,” which has never been deployed and is referred to as a “economic nuclear weapon.” Without turning to the UN or the World Trade Organization, the system would provide swift reprisal, including financial sanctions, market bans, punitive tariffs, and the suspension of US patents and licenses.
Hayer cautioned that Trump “should think twice,” emphasizing that the EU is “not afraid to use deterrence for our defense.” The United States exports more than $500 billion worth of goods to the EU annually, making the group Washington’s largest market. According to a Financial Times report published on Sunday night, EU capitals are thinking about imposing tariffs worth 93 billion euros ($107.68 billion) on Washington or bringing back the “Anti-Coercion Instrument.”
The office of French President Emmanuel Macron described the taxes as “unacceptable,” and it also reaffirmed that if Washington carries out its threat, the president would ask for the same measures. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen stated he had “no doubt about the support from Europe,” despite an expensive trade war, following his meeting with his Norwegian counterpart, Espen Barth Eide, in Oslo. “We must do everything we can to implement the principles,” Rasmussen continued. Eide, meanwhile, declared, “We will not yield to pressure.”
Other European nations joined the condemnation of the US action, in addition to the states that were specifically targeted. During a visit to South Korea, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni referred to the tariff threats as “a mistake.” Following separate phone conversations with Trump, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, and Danish Prime Minister Frederiksen on Sunday, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer reiterated that it is incorrect to impose tariffs on allies for pursuing NATO allies’ collective security.
Starmer stated earlier on Saturday that Britain has a very clear stance on Greenland: “It is part of the Kingdom of Denmark, and its future is a matter for the Greenlanders and the Danes,” calling the US threat “completely wrong.”
Demand that allies show respect for one another
Helen McEntee, Ireland’s foreign minister, emphasized the core values of the UN Charter.In a world if these values are disregarded and compromised, there can be no enduring peace and security,” she stated.
Allies should respect one another and recognize that Greenland is a part of Denmark, according to the Croatian government. It stated, “In this context, we express our solidarity with Denmark and the people of Greenland,” adding that more tariffs would upset the equilibrium of commercial relations between the US and the EU and erode the transatlantic partnership. A possible escalation is set in motion by the coordinated European opposition.
“Bazooka”
Europe has shown an exceptionally strong willingness to risk a tit-for-tat economic conflict over Greenland’s sovereignty with calls to arm the EU’s economic “bazooka” and repeated cautions against blackmail. Trump has frequently expressed a desire to “obtain” Greenland since taking office again in 2025, and he has recently increased his threat.
He announced on social media on Saturday that the United States would impose a 10% tariff on imports from the eight selected nations starting on February 1. He cautioned that until an agreement is reached for the “complete and total purchase” of Greenland, the rate would increase to 25% on June 1.
