Amid Donald Trump’s tariff threat over Greenland, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said that Denmark would continue diplomatic engagement with the United States, citing a new agreement reached
on Wednesday by Denmark, Greenland, and the US to establish a working group.
“…We have been asking since the very beginning of this, to have a constructive dialogue with our American allies and friends…We opened that dialogue last week. We will not give up on that. I have an agreement with American Vice-President. It was reconfirmed after we have listened to the press spokesperson. So, we will stay on track unless US decided differently,” Rasmussen stated.
“The US is also more than the US President. I’ve just been there. There are also checks and balances in American society,” he added.
European Union ambassadors broadly agreed on Sunday to step up efforts to persuade US President Trump not to impose tariffs on European allies, while also preparing countermeasures if the levies are enacted, Reuters reported, citing EU diplomats.
Trump said on Saturday he would introduce a series of escalating tariffs starting February 1 on EU countries, including Denmark, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Finland, as well as Britain and Norway, unless the US is permitted to purchase Greenland—an ultimatum that leading EU nations condemned as blackmail.
EU Nations Issue Joint Statement
Amid escalating tensions in the region, EU ambassadors held an emergency meeting in response to tariff threats on multiple NATO allies. The European Commission is expected to provide an update about the meeting on Monday.
Joint statement by Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom 👇 pic.twitter.com/Gxf3F1Dc3p
— Denmark MFA 🇩🇰 (@DanishMFA) January 18, 2026
Meanwhile, eight European countries—including the UK, Germany, and France—issued a joint statement warning the “tariff threats undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral.” “We will continue to stand united and coordinated in our response,” the statement further read.
Further, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said he discussed the Greenland issue with Trump on Sunday. “We will continue working on this, and I look forward to seeing him in Davos later this week,” Rutte added.
European Council President Antonio Costa has announced plans to convene an extraordinary council meeting in the coming days related to the US-Europe tensions.
Starmer Holds Talks With Trump
Furthermore, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer held a telephonic conversation with the US President over tariff threats. According to Downing Street, he reiterated his position on Greenland, emphasising that Arctic security is a shared NATO priority.
“He also said that applying tariffs on allies for pursuing the collective security of NATO allies is wrong,” his office said.
The British PM spoke with Trump following consultations with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and Rutte.
