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European allies warned Sunday of a “dangerous downward spiral” in transatlantic relations after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to impose 10% tariffs
on several European countries for opposing American control of Greenland. In an unusually strong joint statement, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland rejected Trump’s move and defended recent military deployments to Greenland, calling them routine and non-threatening. Trump’s comments have raised concerns across Europe that trade pressure is being used to force talks over the future of Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of NATO ally Denmark that the U.S. president has repeatedly described as vital to American national security.
European Allies Push Back
“We stand in full solidarity with the Kingdom of Denmark and the people of Greenland,” the eight countries said. “Building on the process begun last week, we stand ready to engage in a dialogue based on the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity that we stand firmly behind. Tariff threats undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral.”
The countries said troops deployed to Greenland for Denmark’s Arctic Endurance military exercise “pose no threat to anyone.”
Six of the eight targeted nations are members of the European Union, which functions as a single trading bloc, raising questions over how tariffs could be applied in practice. EU diplomats held emergency talks Sunday evening to discuss possible responses.
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said geopolitical rivals could benefit from the dispute. “If Greenland's security is at risk, we can address this inside NATO. Tariffs risk making Europe and the United States poorer and undermine our shared prosperity,” she wrote on social media.
In the U.S., Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly criticised the move, writing that Americans would “pay more to try to get territory we don't need.”
“Troops from European countries are arriving in Greenland to defend the territory from us. Let that sink in,” Kelly wrote. “The damage this President is doing to our reputation and our relationships is growing, making us less safe.”
Backlash Even From Trump Allies
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, considered a close Trump ally, called the tariff threat “a mistake,” saying troop deployments were meant to protect against “other actors.”
French President Emmanuel Macron said “no intimidation or threats will influence us,” adding that “tariff threats are unacceptable and have no place in this context.”
In Britain, opposition crossed party lines. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage wrote, “We don't always agree with the US government and in this case we certainly don't. These tariffs will hurt us.”
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the proposal “completely wrong” and said London would raise the issue directly with Washington.
Denmark and Norway’s foreign ministers are expected to address the crisis later Sunday.
