Storm clouds gather over the Atlantic as EU leaders fire a warning shot at President Trump’s tariff escalation over Greenland. In a candid joint declaration, Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa decried the move as a perilous step that could erode vital U.S.-Europe ties.
Details of the threat: 10% levies on goods from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, UK, Netherlands, and Finland from February 1, surging to 25% come June without Greenland concessions.
The island’s profile—Earth’s biggest, Danish-administered with self-rule but Copenhagen-led on foreign affairs—makes it a flashpoint. U.S. military presence adds layers to Trump’s acquisition zeal, persistent post-2025 inauguration.
Immediate backlash came from Nordics, with Denmark’s top diplomat stunned and coordinating with the Commission. Leaders insisted on talks over threats in friendly relations.
Prioritizing international law’s sovereignty pillars, the EU heads affirmed unity and resolve. ‘These tariffs imperil our partnership, steering toward instability,’ they noted.
Economic ripples worry industries from autos to seafood. This tariff tussle tests post-Brexit, post-Trump 2.0 geopolitics. Analysts predict diplomatic hustling ahead, but persistent hardball risks reciprocal actions. As deadlines near, the world eyes whether alliance endures or frays under pressure.