Europe pushes back after Trump vows to use tariffs as leverage to take over Greenland

European Union and UK leaders on Saturday warned of “the beginning of a dangerous spiral” after US President Donald Trump threatened to slap tariffs on European countries until the United States gains control of Greenland.

A senior German MEP said Trump’s latest remarks cast doubt on the EU–US trade deal agreed last year. In response, ambassadors from all 27 EU member states are set to hold an emergency meeting on Sunday to discuss the tariff threat, Cyprus — which currently holds the EU’s rotating presidency — announced late Saturday.

Earlier in the day, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa issued a joint statement, hours after Trump warned that several European nations could face tariffs of up to 25 percent.

“Tariffs would undermine transatlantic relations and risk triggering a dangerous downward spiral,” they wrote on social media.

“Europe will remain united, coordinated and resolute in defending its sovereignty,” the statement added.

Their remarks followed recent talks in Washington between Danish and Greenlandic officials and the US administration over Trump’s bid to acquire Greenland, which ended without agreement.

“The EU stands in full solidarity with Denmark and the people of Greenland,” the statement said.

“Dialogue remains essential, and we are committed to continuing the process initiated last week between the Kingdom of Denmark and the United States.”

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, whose country is no longer an EU member, also condemned Trump’s tariff threat, calling the attempt to acquire Greenland “completely wrong.”

“Imposing tariffs on allies who are working together for Nato’s collective security is entirely unacceptable. We will address this directly with the US administration,” Starmer said.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson likewise rejected the threat, saying, “We will not allow ourselves to be intimidated.”

“I will always stand up for my country and our allied neighbours,” he told AFP, describing the issue as “a European matter.”

Kristersson added that Sweden is holding intensive talks with other EU states, as well as Norway and the UK, to coordinate a joint response.

Trump said that from 1 February, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland would be hit with a 10 percent tariff on all goods exported to the United States.

Manfred Weber, a German MEP and leader of the European Parliament’s largest group, the conservative European People’s Party (EPP), said Trump’s comments had put the EU–US trade deal in doubt.

“The EPP supports the EU–US trade agreement, but in light of Donald Trump’s threats over Greenland, approval is not possible at this stage,” Weber wrote on X.

“The zero-percent tariffs on US products must be suspended,” he added.

Brussels and Washington reached an agreement in July under which most EU exports would face a 15 percent US tariff, though both sides are still seeking further trade concessions.