Europe Will Remain United – EU Chief on Greenland Tariffs
- European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemned Donald Trump's threat to impose tariffs on eight European countries,a move he says will continue until the United States can...
- The proposed tariffs would affect Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Finland.
- Von der Leyen warned the tariffs would damage transatlantic relations and could trigger a damaging cycle of escalation.
Trump Threatens Tariffs on European Allies Over Greenland
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemned Donald Trump’s threat to impose tariffs on eight European countries,a move he says will continue until the United States can purchase Greenland.Trump announced the potential tariffs - starting at 10% on February 1 and escalating to 25% by June 1 – on his Truth Social network.
The proposed tariffs would affect Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Finland.
Von der Leyen warned the tariffs would damage transatlantic relations and could trigger a damaging cycle of escalation. “Tariffs would undermine transatlantic relations and risk a risky downward spiral,” she stated on social media. “Europe will remain united, coordinated, and committed to upholding its sovereignty.”
EU ambassadors are meeting in an emergency session tomorrow, January 18, to discuss a response. Cyprus, currently holding the EU presidency, called the meeting, scheduled to begin at 5pm.
Von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa jointly affirmed the importance of international law. Thay stated:
“Territorial integrity and sovereignty are fundamental principles of international law. They are essential for Europe and for the international community as a whole.”
They also emphasized the shared interest in Arctic security through NATO and defended a recent danish military exercise as posing no threat. The EU expressed full solidarity with Denmark and Greenland, urging continued dialogue with the U.S.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas argued the tariffs would benefit geopolitical rivals. “china and Russia must be having a field day. They are the ones who benefit from divisions among allies,” Kallas posted on X. She added that the tariffs would harm both European and American economies, suggesting security concerns regarding Greenland should be addressed within the NATO framework.
Further data can be found at RTÉ.