European leaders have condemned United States President Donald Trump’s threat to slap tariffs on international locations that resist his bid to take over Greenland, warning the transfer dangers a “harmful downward spiral” in transatlantic ties.
In a joint assertion on Sunday, the eight international locations focused by Trump for brand spanking new tariffs stated they “stand in full solidarity” with Denmark and the folks of Greenland, a semi-autonomous Danish territory.
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“Constructing on the method begun final week, we stand prepared to interact in a dialogue primarily based on the ideas of sovereignty and territorial integrity that we stand firmly behind,” Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the UK stated within the assertion.
“Tariff threats undermine transatlantic relations and danger a harmful downward spiral. We are going to proceed to face united and coordinated in our response. We’re dedicated to upholding our sovereignty.”
The rebuke got here as European officers had been getting ready to carry emergency talks on coordinating a response to Trump’s escalating stress marketing campaign over the way forward for the huge island.
European Council President Antonio Costa stated on Sunday that the bloc was united in upholding nationwide sovereignty and to “defend ourselves in opposition to any type of coercion” forward of a deliberate extraordinary assembly of member states within the coming days.
European officers are anticipated to debate a spread of choices for responding to Trump’s financial threats, together with retaliatory tariffs and market restrictions for US corporations.
Trump introduced on Saturday that the eight international locations would face a ten p.c tariff from February 1, rising to 25 p.c from June 1, till a deal is reached for the US to purchase Greenland.
The Monetary Instances reported that the bloc was contemplating imposing 93 billion euros ($108bn) value of tariffs on US items in addition to activating the Anti-Coercion Instrument, generally referred to as the “commerce bazooka”, adopted by the bloc in 2023.
The mechanism, which has by no means been used, permits for sweeping restrictions on investments and the withdrawal of mental property protections for overseas corporations within the bloc.
“The Anti-Coercion Instrument (ACI), designed exactly for such circumstances, should now be used,” German MEP Bernd Lange, who chairs the European Parliament’s commerce committee, stated in a submit on X.
“I name on the European Fee to activate it instantly.”
Trump’s insistence on controlling Greenland has plunged US-European relations to their lowest level in a long time, prompting fears for the survival of NATO.
Trump, who has not dominated out the usage of navy power to grab the territory, has brushed apart issues about splitting the 32-member transatlantic alliance, which is constructed on the precept that an armed assault in opposition to anyone member is taken into account an assault in opposition to all.
Trump reiterated his dedication for the US to take possession of Greenland in a social media submit early on Monday, claiming that Denmark had been “unable to do something” about Russian threats to the territory.
“Now it’s time, and will probably be accomplished!!!” Trump stated on Reality Social.
Denmark has dominated out promoting Greenland, and opinion polls recommend the overwhelming majority of the island’s 57,000 residents don’t want to be a part of the US.
On Saturday, hundreds of protesters took to the streets of Danish cities to rally in opposition to Trump’s threats, chanting “Greenland will not be on the market” and holding banners with slogans similar to “Fingers off Greenland”.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on Sunday expressed appreciation for the “sturdy assist” being supplied to her nation.
“We wish to cooperate, and it isn’t us who’re in search of battle. And I’m happy by the constant messages from the remainder of the continent: Europe is not going to be blackmailed,” Frederiksen stated in a press release on social media.
French President Emmanuel Macron stated that “no intimidation or menace” would affect his authorities’s place on Greenland.
“Tariff threats are unacceptable and haven’t any place on this context,” Macron stated on social media.
“Europeans will reply in a united and coordinated method ought to they be confirmed. We are going to make sure that European sovereignty is upheld.”
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer known as Trump’s deliberate tariffs “utterly unsuitable”.
“We are going to in fact be pursuing this instantly with the US administration,” he stated on social media.
