Major European Union countries, including Germany and France, condemned U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff threats over Greenland as “blackmail” on Sunday, with France pushing for unprecedented countermeasures as transatlantic tensions escalate.
Trump announced on Saturday that he would impose escalating tariffs—starting at 10% on February 1 and rising to 25% on June 1—on goods from Denmark, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Finland, Britain, and Norway unless a deal is reached for the U.S. to purchase Greenland. The targeted nations, all NATO allies already facing existing U.S. tariffs of 10-15%, have sent small contingents of military personnel to Greenland for a Danish-led Arctic security exercise, which they described as non-threatening and aimed at bolstering shared defense interests. In a joint statement, the eight countries warned that the threats “undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral,” reaffirming solidarity with Denmark and Greenland while emphasizing sovereignty, territorial integrity, and readiness for dialogue .
French President Emmanuel Macron will request the activation of the European Union’s anti-coercion instrument after US President Donald Trump announced new tariffs on European countries over Greenland. https://t.co/8QINtb8Mag
— Bloomberg (@business) January 18, 2026
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen praised the unified European response, declaring, “Europe will not be blackmailed,” while Dutch Foreign Minister David van Weel called the move outright “blackmail.” French President Emmanuel Macron is advocating activation of the EU’s Anti-Coercion Instrument—an untested tool that could restrict U.S. access to public tenders, investments, banking, or services trade where the U.S. holds a surplus—to counter the pressure. Cyprus, holding the EU rotating presidency, summoned ambassadors for an emergency meeting in Brussels, and the European Parliament appears poised to suspend progress on a pending EU-U.S. trade deal. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni labeled the threat “a mistake” after speaking with Trump, who she said seemed open to listening, while British officials stressed that their position on Greenland remains “non-negotiable” and called for cooperation over confrontation.
Danes protesting in Copenhagen against Trump’s plans to take over Greenland from Denmark
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) January 18, 2026
🇺🇸🇬🇱🇩🇰 pic.twitter.com/HcqxHzGQNz
The dispute follows recent talks between Denmark, Greenland, and U.S. officials that established a working group but yielded no breakthrough, amid protests in Nuuk and Copenhagen against U.S. acquisition efforts. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen emphasized diplomacy despite the threats, noting U.S. checks and balances beyond the presidency. Some voices, like German lawmaker Juergen Hardt, floated extreme ideas such as boycotting the U.S.-hosted soccer World Cup, though Ireland’s leader cautioned against premature escalation. The threats jeopardize fragile recent trade pacts and highlight strains within NATO over Arctic security and sovereignty.
