At the same moment that the leaders of the European Union signed with Mercosur the world’s largest trade agreement to eliminate tariffs, Donald Trump announced a 10% surcharge against eight European countries – including Germany, France and the United Kingdom – in retaliation for having sent troops to Greenland, the large Arctic island under Danish sovereignty that the United States intends to annex.
This new threat from Trump against his European allies is experienced in Brussels as a true turning point. If until now they had opted for appeasement, adulation and even capitulation, This time the community leaders seem willing to stand up to the American president with a joint response that is still being negotiated.
“We will not allow ourselves to be blackmailed. Only Denmark and Greenland decide on matters that concern them,” The Swedish Prime Minister has written in his X account, Ulf Kristersson. “No intimidation or threat will be able to influence us, neither in Ukraine, nor in Greenland,” agrees French President Emmanuel Macron.
“Tariff threats are unacceptable and have no place in this context. We Europeans will respond in a united and coordinated manner if they are confirmed.. We will know how to enforce European sovereignty,” Macron insisted.
“Imposing tariffs would weaken transatlantic relations and could trigger a dangerous spiral of tensions. “Europe will continue to be united, coordinated and firm in the defense of its sovereignty,” says the president of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.
The truth is that The EU did give in to US blackmail with the trade agreement that Von der Leyen signed with Trump in July of last year. The German company accepted a general surcharge of 15% on European products and renounced taking retaliatory measures, claiming that this provides “stability” and “predictability” to citizens and companies.
What changes now compared to July? The difference is that the American president’s plan to seize Greenland at any price – without even ruling out the use of force – violates all the red lines defended by the EU: respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity and the inviolability of borders.
“Territorial integrity and sovereignty are fundamental principless of international law. They are essential for Europe and for the international community as a whole,” Von der Leyen wrote in her reaction to Trump.
António Costa and Ursula von der Leyen, during the signing this Saturday in Asunción (Paraguay) of the trade agreement with Mercosur
“Today, what is necessary is not conflict but peace; what is necessary is not conflicts between countries, but cooperation. What is fundamental is to always defend international law, wherever it may be,” said the President of the European Council, Antonio Costaat the press conference after the signing of the pact with Mercosur in Paraguay.
“If we want prosperity we have to open the markets and not close them, “We have to create economic integration zones and not increase tariffs.”Costa insisted when asked about Trump’s latest threats.
“The EU will always be very firm in the defense of international law, wherever it may be, and of course starting on the territory of the EU Member States. For now, I am coordinating a joint response of the Member States on this issue,” he concluded.
The eight countries to which Trump intends to apply a 10% tariff starting February 1 are Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland. The surcharge will increase to 25% starting June 1, and will be in effect “until an agreement is reached for the complete and complete acquisition of Greenland.”
The president of the United States accuses them of having sent soldiers to Greenland “for unknown reasons”. “This is a very dangerous situation for the safety, security and survival of our planet. These countries, which are playing this extremely dangerous game, have introduced a level of risk that is neither acceptable nor sustainable,” he wrote on his Truth Social network.
“The Danish exercise, previously coordinated and carried out with allies, responds to the need to strengthen security in the Arctic and poses no threat to anyone“Von der Leyen replied.
This Saturday, EU leaders reiterated their full solidarity with Denmark and Greenland, where tens of thousands of people have demonstrated against Trump’s annexation plans. And they have launched a new call for “dialogue” after the failed meeting between Denmark and the US held last week in Washington.
US President Donald Trump
In fact, the deployment of European troops in Greenland began just after the unsuccessful meeting of the Danish foreign minister, Lars Lokke Rasmussenwith JD Vance and Marco Rubio. Their stated objective is to stop Russia and China, although in reality they seek to dissuade the US president from taking action.
The Europeans had sold this mission as a NATO deployment to reinforce security in the Arctic. But the miniforce does not operate under the Alliance umbrella, because that would require support from Washington.
What measures can Brussels take now to stand up to Trump? To begin with, the threat of new tariffs seems to have blown up the July trade agreement between the EU and the US.
The leader of the popular European group, the German Manfred Weberannounced this Saturday that the European Parliament will not ratify the planned reduction to 0% of rates on American industrial products.
“The EPP is in favor of the trade agreement between the EU and the US, but given Donald Trump’s threats regarding Greenland, approval is not possible at this time“, Weber said.
The European Parliament also calls on Von der Leyen to tighten the ‘nuclear button‘ against the United States. It would try to activate the so-called Instrument against Economic Coercion, which, among other measures, would allow North American technology giants to be restricted from accessing the European market.
“We must act now: suspend negotiations on the trade agreement between the EU and the United States and activate the Anti-Coercion Instrument. The EU will not bow to intimidation“, claims the leader of the European socialists, Iratxe García, very close to Pedro Sánchez.
This nuclear option was already considered at the beginning of last year, when Trump announced his first round of tariffs against the EU, but it was finally discarded and Von der Leyen ended up capitulating. But The possibility of a US military intervention in Greenland puts it back on the tablewith consequences that could redefine transatlantic relations.