EU leaders strongly criticised Trump`s tariff threats and promised a joint response.
French President Emmanuel Macron said that US President Donald Trump's tariff threats are unacceptable and cannot be used as a tool of pressure. According to Macron, Europe will respond in a unified and coordinated manner if these measures are confirmed. He stressed that no threats will influence the position of Europeans regarding Ukraine, Greenland or security in other regions of the world.
The French leader emphasised his commitment to the sovereignty of states and the principles of the UN Charter, noting that security in the Arctic and on European borders is currently at stake. For these reasons, he said, France continues to support Ukraine and participates in joint defence initiatives with its allies, including exercises initiated by Denmark in Greenland.
Brussels also joined in the criticism. President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa expressed their full solidarity with Denmark and the people of Greenland. They warned that the introduction of tariffs could undermine transatlantic relations and provoke a dangerous escalation, stressing the importance of dialogue with the United States.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the use of tariffs against allies completely wrong and detrimental to NATO's collective security. He stressed that the future of Greenland should be determined by the Greenlanders and Denmark themselves.
In response to the situation, European Union ambassadors will meet for an extraordinary meeting on 18 January to discuss further steps.
Meanwhile, criticism of Trump's tariff policy has also been voiced in the US Senate. Republicans Tom Tillis and Lisa Murkowski said that such tariffs harm American business and play into the hands of NATO's opponents, particularly Russia and China.
Earlier, Donald Trump announced his intention to impose a 10 per cent tariff on goods from eight European countries from 1 February 2026 due to their position on Greenland, with a possible increase to 25 per cent from June.
Macron, Trump, Ursula von der Leyen, Koszta, Starmer, Tillis, Murkowski, Russia, China, USA
