German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Europe remains united with Denmark and Greenland after President Donald Trump threatened tariffs against U.S. allies over Greenland, warning that such measures would undermine relations across the Atlantic.
“We stand united and coordinated with Denmark and the people of Greenland,” Merz said, adding that Germany, as a NATO member, is committed to strengthening Arctic security as a shared transatlantic interest.
Merz said cooperation among allies, not economic pressure, should guide policy in the Arctic, where NATO countries have increased coordination amid heightened geopolitical tensions. Denmark has led multinational training and security activities in and around Greenland with the participation of several European allies, citing the need to bolster collective defense in the region.
“Tariff threats undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral,” Merz said, signaling Berlin’s opposition to linking trade measures to security disputes among allies.
Trump has argued that Greenland is vital to U.S. national security and has threatened tariffs on several European countries if they do not agree to negotiations over the Arctic island, which is part of the Kingdom of Denmark. The remarks have drawn sharp responses across Europe, with leaders emphasizing sovereignty, alliance unity and the importance of resolving disputes through dialogue rather than coercion.
