BERLIN (AP) 鈥� The eight European countries targeted by U.S. President Donald Trump for for opposing American control of Greenland blasted the move Sunday, warning that his threats 鈥渦ndermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral.鈥�
The joint statement by some of America鈥檚 closest allies signaled a possible turning point in the recent tensions over sovereignty and security nearly 24 hours after Trump鈥檚 threat.
It was also the most forceful rebuke of Trump from the European allies since he returned to the White House almost a year ago. In recent months, Europeans have mostly opted for diplomacy and flattery around him, even when seeking an end to the war in Ukraine. Sunday鈥檚 statement, as well as some European countries sending troops to Greenland for a Danish military training exercise, appeared to be a step away from that strategy.
The unusually strong joint statement from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland said troops sent to Greenland for operation 鈥淎rctic Endurance鈥� pose 鈥渘o threat to anyone.鈥�
Danish Foreign Minister Lars L酶kke Rasmussen told reporters in Oslo that a dialogue was opened with the U.S. last week and 鈥渨e will not give up on that. … So we will stay on track 鈥� unless U.S. decides differently.”
Added Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide at the same news conference: “We will not allow ourselves to be put under pressure, and those types of threats (of U.S. tariffs) are unacceptable between close allies,鈥�
Six of the countries targeted are part of the 27-member European Union, which operates as a single economic zone in terms of trade.
Following emergency talks among the EU’s national envoys Sunday, EU Council President Antonio Costa said the bloc’s leaders agree 鈥渢hat tariffs would undermine transatlantic relations and are incompatible with the EU-U.S. trade agreement.鈥�
They expressed 鈥渞eadiness to defend ourselves against any form of coercion,鈥� Costa said in a statement. He is expected to convene a summit of the bloc’s leaders later this week.
Solidarity with Denmark and Greenland
Trump’s Saturday announcement sets up a potentially dangerous test of U.S. partnerships in Europe. He appeared to indicate that he was using the tariffs as leverage to force talks over the status of Greenland, a semiautonomous territory of Denmark that he regards as critical to U.S. national security.
Late Sunday, Trump posted on his social media platform that NATO has warned Denmark for two decades of the Russian threat to Greenland. He said Denmark hasn鈥檛 acted and 鈥淣ow it is time, and it will be done!!!鈥�
鈥淲e stand in full solidarity with the Kingdom of Denmark and the people of Greenland,” the group said. 鈥淏uilding 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.鈥�
There are immediate questions about how the White House could implement tariffs against the EU. It was unclear, too, how Trump could act under U.S. law, though he could cite emergency economic powers that are currently subject to a challenge.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said China and Russia will benefit from divisions between the U.S. and Europe. She added on social media: 鈥淚f Greenland鈥檚 security is at risk, we can address this inside NATO..”
Europe has been trying to keep Trump on its side to ensure U.S. support for Ukraine, including Washington sharing intelligence with Kyiv and its involvement in security guarantees if a peace agreement is reached with Russia.
Rasmus S酶ndergaard, a senior researcher at the Danish Institute for International Studies, called Trump鈥檚 announcement 鈥渦nprecedented鈥� because tariff threats normally stem from trade disagreements, not territorial disputes between allies.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 of course why we鈥檙e seeing the response from European countries saying 鈥檈nough is enough,鈥欌�� he told The Associated Press. 鈥淚 think there鈥檚 in part probably a strategic calculation, of course, from the governments in these countries that if you give in to Trump on this, what will be the next thing? And at some point you have to sort of push back.鈥�
S酶ndergaard also said Trump leveled the playing field for Europe with the tariff threat. Europeans cannot compete militarily, but the EU can wield an economic weapon through reciprocal tariffs.
wrote on social media Sunday that he鈥檇 spoken with Trump. Rutte has been criticized in recent days for largely sidestepping questions about Trump and Greenland and any NATO tensions over the island.
鈥淲e will continue working on this, and I look forward to seeing him in Davos later this week,鈥� Rutte said.
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer also spoke to Trump and told him that 鈥渁pplying tariffs on allies for pursuing the collective security of NATO allies is wrong,鈥� a Downing Street spokeswoman said. That call followed conversations with Rutte, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
was also panned domestically.
an Arizona Democrat, said Trump鈥檚 threatened tariffs on U.S. allies would make Americans 鈥減ay more to try to get territory we don鈥檛 need.鈥�
鈥淭roops from European countries are arriving in Greenland to defend the territory from us. Let that sink in,鈥� Kelly said on social media. 鈥淭he damage this President is doing to our reputation and our relationships is growing, making us less safe. If something doesn鈥檛 change we will be on our own with adversaries and enemies in every direction.鈥�
Former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said he supports the United States ultimately owning Greenland, but not how Trump is trying to accomplish it.
He said he had concerns whether Trump had the constitutional authority to impose unilateral tariffs on NATO allies, as well as about a threat of a military invasion. Trump鈥檚 current position threatens 鈥渢o fracture that strong relationship, not just with Denmark, but with all of our NATO allies,鈥� Pence said on CNN鈥檚 鈥淪tate of the Union.鈥�
Trump’s populist allies criticize the tariff threat
The tariff announcement also drew blowback from Trump’s populist allies in Europe.
Italy鈥檚 right-wing premier, Giorgia Meloni, considered one of Trump鈥檚 closest allies on the continent, said she had spoken to him about the tariffs, which she described as 鈥渁 mistake.鈥�
The deployment to Greenland of small numbers of troops by some European countries was misunderstood by Washington, Meloni said, adding it was not a move against the U.S. but aimed to provide security against 鈥渙ther actors鈥� that she didn鈥檛 identify.
Jordan Bardella, president of Marine Le Pen鈥檚 far-right National Rally party in France and a European Parliament lawmaker, posted that the EU should suspend last year鈥檚 with the U.S., describing Trump鈥檚 threats as 鈥渃ommercial blackmail.鈥�
Trump also achieved the rare feat of uniting Britain鈥檚 main political parties 鈥� including the hard-right Reform UK party 鈥� all of whom criticized the tariff threat.
Also in London on Sunday, while Vanessa Williams sang 鈥淭he Star-Spangled Banner鈥� before an NBA game between Memphis and Orlando. The outburst drew scattered laughs and applause.
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Lawless reported from London and Burrows reported from Nuuk, Greenland. John Leicester in Paris, Lorne Cook in Brussels, Barry Hatton in Lisbon, Portugal, Aamer Madhani in Washington, Edith M. Lederer in New York, and Josh Boak in West Palm Beach, Florida, contributed.
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