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The European Union’s top official did not hold back in her warnings about President Donald Trump’s threat to impose fresh tariffs on countries opposing his push for the U.S. to acquire Greenland, a semiautonomous Danish territory.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called Trump’s threats “a mistake” and questioned the U.S.’s trustworthiness, saying that the E.U.-U.S. trade deal from July had to “mean something.”
“Arctic security can only be achieved together. This is why the proposed additional tariffs are a mistake, especially between long-standing allies. The E.U. and U.S. have agreed to a trade deal last July. And in politics as in business — a deal is a deal. And when friends shake hands, it must mean something,” Von der Leyen said.
“We consider the people of the United States not just our allies, but our friends. And plunging us into a dangerous downward spiral would only aid the very adversaries we are both so committed to keeping out of the strategic landscape,” she added, vowing the E.U.’s response would be “unflinching, united and proportional.”
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During the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, E.U. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen slammed U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats to impose tariffs on countries who defy his proposed U.S. takeover of Greenland. (Harun Ozalp/Anadolu via Getty Images; Yuri Gripas/Abaca/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
French President Emmanuel Macron also addressed the issue at Davos, saying that the tariffs could force the E.U. to use its anti-coercion mechanism against the U.S. “for the very first time,” The Associated Press reported. The outlet noted that he argued that allied countries should be focused on bringing peace to Ukraine and ending the nearly four-year war with Russia.
Trump announced on Saturday that starting on Feb. 1, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the U.K., the Netherlands and Finland would face a 10% tariff on all goods imported to the U.S. The rate will then increase to 25% on June 1. The president added that “this tariff will be due and payable until such time as a deal is reached for the complete and total purchase of Greenland.”
The president doubled down on his argument that U.S. control of Greenland was necessary to protect national security and American interests, saying that the acquisition would be key to developing the Golden Dome, a cutting-edge missile defense system meant to intercept threats targeting the American homeland.
People take part in the “Hands Off Greenland” protest, held under the slogans “Hands Off Greenland” and “Greenland for Greenlanders,” after the White House said that the U.S. was considering a range of options to acquire Greenland, including the use of military force, in Copenhagen, Denmark, Jan. 17, 2026. (Ritzau Scanpix/Emil Helms/via Reuters)
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The Trump administration’s rhetoric about Greenland has caused friction between the U.S. and several of its allies who warn that annexing the territory could burn diplomatic bridges. However, on Tuesday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that the U.S.’s relations with Europe remain strong and encouraged trading partners to “take a deep breath,” the AP reported.
Leaders from Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the U.K. issued a joint statement on Tuesday, affirming their commitment as NATO members to “strengthening Arctic security as a shared transatlantic interest.” They also expressed their solidarity with Denmark and Greenland.
“Tariff threats undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral. We will continue to stand united and coordinated in our response. We are committed to upholding our sovereignty,” the statement read.
Some European nations recently tried to flex their muscles with a brief troop deployment to Greenland. France, Germany, Sweden and Norway participated in a two-day exercise to bolster the Danish territory’s defenses amid Trump’s threats. Germany deployed a reconnaissance team of 13 personnel, France sent 15 mountain specialists and Sweden, Norway and Britain sent three, two and one officers, respectively, according to Reuters.
Visitors attend the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 20, 2026. (Ludovic Marin/AFP via Getty Images)
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In text messages that Trump published on Truth Social, Macron suggested a meeting of the Group of Seven (G7) nations in Paris after the conference in Davos. The AP reported that an official close to Macron confirmed the authenticity of the text exchange. As of Jan. 20, no such meeting had been announced.
Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment.
The Associated Press and Fox News Digital’s Greg Norman-Diamond and Gillian Turner contributed to this report.