EU Poised to Respond Strongly to Trump’s Greenland Tariffs

The European Union is gearing up to respond to Donald Trump’s tariff threats, particularly in light of his controversial interest in acquiring Greenland. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has intensified her rhetoric against the US president, signaling a shift in the EU’s approach.

“We are at a crossroads,” von der Leyen stated during her address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday. “Europe prefers dialogue and solutions — but we are fully prepared to act, if necessary, with unity, urgency, and determination.”

She emphasized that there is no going back to the previous world order that Europe has spent decades building in cooperation with the United States. “The shift in the international order is not only seismic — but it is permanent,” she asserted. “We now live in a world defined by raw power.”

Read more: Allianz Executive Pushes EU to Pressure US With Market Volatility

Von der Leyen’s remarks reflect a more assertive stance in response to Trump’s ongoing threats against Europe. This comes as she faces increasing pressure to adopt a firmer approach against the US president’s global aggression.

Trump is scheduled to address the World Economic Forum in Davos later on Wednesday, and EU capitals are keenly awaiting any indication of whether he plans to de-escalate his threats of imposing new tariffs on European goods.

On Saturday, Trump announced a 10% tariff on goods from eight European countries, set to take effect on February 1, with an increase to 25% in June unless he is permitted to purchase Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark, which is both an ally in NATO and a member of the EU. In response, EU leaders are convening an emergency meeting in Brussels on Thursday to discuss potential retaliatory measures.

Von der Leyen criticized the proposed tariffs as “simply wrong,” especially given that the EU and the US share a common strategic assessment regarding Arctic security. “If we are now plunging into a dangerous downward spiral between allies, this would only embolden the very adversaries we are both so committed to keeping out of our strategic landscape,” she noted, reiterating points made in her earlier speech to the Davos audience.

In light of the Greenland crisis, the European Parliament is poised to delay a vote on the ratification of a significant EU-US trade deal.

Furthermore, von der Leyen announced that the EU is preparing to support Greenland with a “massive European investment surge” aimed at bolstering the local economy and infrastructure. She also mentioned plans to “strengthen our security arrangements” with the UK, Canada, Norway, and Iceland, while working on a new security strategy in the coming months.

“I believe Europe itself needs to reassess its wider security strategy,” she concluded. “The world has changed so fast, and Europe now has to change with it.”

Photograph: Ursula von der Leyen in Strasbourg, on Jan. 21, 2025; photo credit: Philipp von Ditfurth/Getty Images

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Copyright 2026 Bloomberg.

Topics
Europe

The European Union is gearing up to respond to Donald Trump’s tariff threats, particularly in light of his controversial interest in acquiring Greenland. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has intensified her rhetoric against the US president, signaling a shift in the EU’s approach.

“We are at a crossroads,” von der Leyen stated during her address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday. “Europe prefers dialogue and solutions — but we are fully prepared to act, if necessary, with unity, urgency, and determination.”

She emphasized that there is no going back to the previous world order that Europe has spent decades building in cooperation with the United States. “The shift in the international order is not only seismic — but it is permanent,” she asserted. “We now live in a world defined by raw power.”

Read more: Allianz Executive Pushes EU to Pressure US With Market Volatility

Von der Leyen’s remarks reflect a more assertive stance in response to Trump’s ongoing threats against Europe. This comes as she faces increasing pressure to adopt a firmer approach against the US president’s global aggression.

Trump is scheduled to address the World Economic Forum in Davos later on Wednesday, and EU capitals are keenly awaiting any indication of whether he plans to de-escalate his threats of imposing new tariffs on European goods.

On Saturday, Trump announced a 10% tariff on goods from eight European countries, set to take effect on February 1, with an increase to 25% in June unless he is permitted to purchase Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark, which is both an ally in NATO and a member of the EU. In response, EU leaders are convening an emergency meeting in Brussels on Thursday to discuss potential retaliatory measures.

Von der Leyen criticized the proposed tariffs as “simply wrong,” especially given that the EU and the US share a common strategic assessment regarding Arctic security. “If we are now plunging into a dangerous downward spiral between allies, this would only embolden the very adversaries we are both so committed to keeping out of our strategic landscape,” she noted, reiterating points made in her earlier speech to the Davos audience.

In light of the Greenland crisis, the European Parliament is poised to delay a vote on the ratification of a significant EU-US trade deal.

Furthermore, von der Leyen announced that the EU is preparing to support Greenland with a “massive European investment surge” aimed at bolstering the local economy and infrastructure. She also mentioned plans to “strengthen our security arrangements” with the UK, Canada, Norway, and Iceland, while working on a new security strategy in the coming months.

“I believe Europe itself needs to reassess its wider security strategy,” she concluded. “The world has changed so fast, and Europe now has to change with it.”

Photograph: Ursula von der Leyen in Strasbourg, on Jan. 21, 2025; photo credit: Philipp von Ditfurth/Getty Images

Related:

Copyright 2026 Bloomberg.

Topics
Europe