Europe Rejects Trump’s Greenland “Blackmail” as Tariff Deadline Looms

In a significant escalation of transatlantic tensions, European governments and EU leaders have issued a unified rebuke of President Donald Trump’s latest trade threat. The U.S. President has vowed to impose punitive tariffs on eight European allies starting February 1, 2026, unless a deal is reached for the United States to purchase Greenland.

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The Conflict at a Glance

• The Threat: A 10% tariff on all goods from targeted nations, scheduled to rise to 25% on June 1.
• The Target Countries: Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, France, Germany, the UK, and the Netherlands.
• The Ultimatum: Tariffs remain “due and payable” until the “Complete and Total purchase” of Greenland is finalized.

Leaders Call It “Blackmail” and “Intimidation”

Leaders across the continent have rejected the proposal, citing national sovereignty and international law as non-negotiable.

• United Kingdom: Prime Minister Keir Starmer labeled the move “completely wrong,” stating that Greenland’s future is a matter only for the Greenlandic and Danish people.
• France: President Emmanuel Macron posted a defiant message on X, asserting that “no amount of intimidation” would change Europe’s course. He characterized the tariffs as “unacceptable” in a modern diplomatic context.
• Sweden: Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson was blunt, stating, “We will not let ourselves be blackmailed.” He emphasized that Sweden stands in full solidarity with its Nordic neighbors.
• Norway: Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre noted that “threats have no place among allies,” reinforcing that Norway’s position on Danish sovereignty remains firm.

The EU’s Unified Defensive Front

The European Union is treating the threat as an attack on the entire bloc, shifting from a policy of engagement to one of deterrence.

• Trade Deal Suspension: Manfred Weber, leader of the European People’s Party, announced that the EU-U.S. trade deal agreed upon last summer is now “impossible” to approve. He has called for 0% tariffs on U.S. goods to be put on hold immediately.
• The “Anti-Coercion” Bazooka: EU officials are discussing the activation of the Anti-Coercion Instrument (ACI). This would allow the EU to legally retaliate with its own tariffs and restrictions to counter economic bullying.
• The “Downward Spiral” Warning: Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Council President António Costa warned that these measures risk a “dangerous downward spiral” in the historic alliance between Europe and the United States.

Context: The Arctic Security Stand-Off

Trump’s move appears to be a direct reaction to the “Arctic Sentry” mission—a recent deployment of European troops to Greenland intended to bolster security against Russian and Chinese interests. While Trump views this as a “dangerous game” by Europe, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen clarified that the mission was conducted in “full transparency” with U.S. allies to ensure stability, not to provoke Washington.

Current Status: EU ambassadors are holding emergency sessions this week to finalize a coordinated list of retaliatory measures should the February 1 deadline pass without the U.S. backing down.