Diplomacy

Donald Trump continues to claim Greenland, not on the basis of any legal, historical or moral reason, but just because, as he says, “we must have it”. Greenland is a self-governing territory, part of the Kingdom of Denmark which has three constituent parts: mainland Denmark, Greenland and the Faroe Islands. Copenhagen is responsible for Greenland’s defence and foreign affairs. Trump’s claim is so absurd, that initially it was not taken seriously. It was dismissed as another of Trump’s rants, soon to be forgotten. But on Friday (16 January), the president of the United States imposed from 1 February, 10% additional tariffs on eight European  countries that had dared question his claim: Denmark, Norway, Finland, Sweden, France, Germany, Netherlands and UK; with a threat that the extra tariffs  would increase to 25% on 1 June. Unfortunately, what may first appear to be a Lillipudian soap opera, is in fact a major international crises. Whatever happens now, transatlantic relations will never be the same again. Trust is broken, and the damage will be difficult to repair, even long after Trump has left the White House. Europe must now wake up to reality, and responsibility. NATO needs to change if it is to survive, depending less on the US, and being more agile. Trump’s Greenland threats have poisoned US-Europe relations, but they have also shown the meaning of the word solidarity, not only within the EU, but also with non-EU European countries such as UK and Norway, as well as with Canada. From every crises, an opportunity arises. (click the picture to read the full commentary).

European countries are resolute in their support for Greenland and Denmark, in the face of continued threats by the Trump administration to take control of Greenland, which is a self-administered territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. The latest move by the Trump Whitehouse was to impose a 10% tariff on eight European countries that have declared their support for Greenland and Denmark. Trump wrote on Friday on social media, "Starting on February 1, 2026, all of the above-mentioned countries (Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Finland) will impose a 10% tariff on all goods shipped to the United States. On June 1, 2026, these tariffs will increase to 25%," In a message on X, the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen  said: "Territorial integrity and sovereignty are fundamental principles of international law. They are essential for Europe and the international community as a whole." She added that Europe consistently emphasized in many ways, including through NATO, that they have shared transatlantic interests in peace and security in the Arctic. She also emphasized that the pre-coordinated Danish exercise, held with allies, meets the need to strengthen Arctic security and does not pose a threat to anyone. "The EU stands in full solidarity with the people of Denmark and Greenland. Dialogue remains essential and we are committed to taking forward the process launched last week between the Kingdom of Denmark and the United States," the European Commission President wrote. She also said that the tariffs Trump wants to impose would undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral. EU ambassadors will meet in emergency session on Sunday in Brussels to discuss the matter. This is likely to be followed by a meeting of Foreign Ministers later this week.