ReutersDenmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen says “Europe will not be blackmailed”, as she and different European leaders proceed to weigh their response to US President Donald Trump’s tariff threats over Greenland.
Trump says he’ll impose new taxes on eight US allies – Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the UK – in February in the event that they oppose his proposed takeover of the autonomous Danish territory.
He insists Greenland is crucial for US safety and has not dominated out taking it by power – a transfer that has drawn widespread criticism.
The nations threatened with tariffs have now issued joint assertion, saying Trump’s plan dangers a “harmful downward spiral”.
“Tariff threats undermine transatlantic relations,” they mentioned, reiterating that they “stand in full solidarity with the Kingdom of Denmark and the individuals of Greenland”.
The nations confused they’re “dedicated to strengthening Arctic safety as a shared transatlantic curiosity” as members of the Nato army alliance.
“We stand prepared to interact in a dialogue primarily based on the rules of sovereignty and territorial integrity that we stand firmly behind,” the assertion reads.
Individually, Frederiksen wrote on Fb: “We wish to cooperate and we aren’t those in search of battle. And I’m joyful for the constant messages from the remainder of the continent: Europe is not going to be blackmailed.”
“It’s all the extra essential that we stand agency on the elemental values that created the European neighborhood.”
In the meantime, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer mentioned he had had telephone calls on Sunday with Frederiksen, in addition to European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen and Nato Secretary-Normal Mark Rutte, earlier than talking to Trump.
A spokeswoman for Starmer’s workplace mentioned he had reiterated his place that Greenland’s safety was a precedence for all Nato members. “He additionally mentioned that making use of tariffs on allies for pursuing the collective safety of Nato allies is incorrect,” the spokeswoman added.
Trump has threatened to impose a ten% tariff on items from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands and Finland, which might come into power on 1 February, however might later rise to 25% – and would final till a deal was reached.
“These International locations, who’re taking part in this very harmful recreation, have put a stage of threat in play that isn’t tenable or sustainable,” he wrote, including: “This can be a very harmful scenario for the Security, Safety and Survival of our Planet”.
The US president insists Greenland is crucial for US safety and has mentioned beforehand that Washington would get the territory “the straightforward approach” or “the onerous approach”.
Greenland is a sparsely populated however resource-rich and its location between North America and the Arctic makes it properly positioned for early warning techniques within the occasion of missile assaults and for monitoring vessels within the area.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Sunday informed NBC Information’ Meet the Press that “Greenland can solely be defended whether it is a part of the US, and it’ll not should be defended whether it is a part of the US”.
“I consider that the Europeans will perceive that that is greatest for Greenland, greatest for Europe and greatest for america,” he mentioned.
It’s nonetheless unclear how the tariffs will have an effect on these Trump has already imposed on the UK and EU. French President Emmanuel Macron, who’s working to co-ordinate the European response to the tariff threats, mentioned he would request that the EU activate its “anti-coercion instrument” if Trump does impose them.
The US president is because of communicate on the World Financial Discussion board in Davos, Switzerland on Wednesday on the theme “how can we co-operate in a extra contested world?” Macron, in addition to the leaders of Germany and the EU, may even be attending the annual convention.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who may even be there, mentioned his nation was “involved by the latest escalation” and that it will be “considerably rising Arctic safety — strengthening our army and investing in crucial infrastructure”.
“Canada strongly believes that the easiest way to safe the Arctic is by working collectively inside Nato,” he additionally wrote on X.
Mark Rutte, in the meantime, mentioned he had spoken to Trump “relating to the safety scenario in Greenland and the Arctic”.
“We are going to proceed engaged on this, and I look ahead to seeing him in Davos later this week,” he added.
EPA/ShutterstockPublic anger in each Denmark and Greenland at Trump’s threats over Greenland seems undiminished. Demonstrations towards Trump’s takeover plans have been held in Greenland’s capital, Nuuk, on Saturday – earlier than the tariff announcement – in addition to in Danish cities.
These rallies coincide with a go to to Copenhagen by a delegation from the US Congress. Its chief, Democratic Senator Chris Coons, described Mr Trump’s rhetoric as “not constructive”.
The island’s consultant to the US has mentioned that the final time Greenlanders have been requested in the event that they wished to be a part of the US, in January 2025, solely 6% have been in favour of doing so, whereas 85% have been towards.
A latest ballot suggests that the majority People additionally oppose US management of Greenland. A Reuters/Ipsos ballot, which was launched final Wednesday, indicated simply 17% of People help the US taking Greenland, in comparison with 47% who mentioned they opposed Trump’s push to amass the island.