European allies warn Trump tariffs risk downward spiral in relations

European allies warn Trump tariffs risk downward spiral in relations

DPA

Sun, January 18, 2026 at 7:31 PM UTC

5 min read

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US President Donald Trump speaks to reporters as he departs the White House heading to Detroit to speak about the economy. Andrew Leyden/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

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European powers on Sunday warned that US President Donald Trump's tariff threats over Greenland risk a "dangerous downward spiral" as they weighed a response to the growing crisis.

Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom said in a joint statement that the trade threats tied to Trump’s bid to take control of Greenland "undermine trans-Atlantic relations."

The eight countries, all of them NATO members, reiterated their solidarity with Denmark and Greenland and said dialogue was the way to resolve differences.

"We will continue to stand united and coordinated in our response. We are committed to upholding our sovereignty," they said in the joint statement.

Trump announced on Saturday that he would impose a 10% tariff on goods from the countries from February 1, rising to 25% from June 1 if no resolution is reached to his satisfaction, which would be the "complete and total purchase" of Greenland.

Troops from those countries had sent troops to Greenland in recent days for a Danish-led reconnaissance mission aimed at strengthening security around Greenland, although Berlin said on Sunday that its soldiers had left.

Trump reacted angrily to the deployments, writing in the same Truth Social post announcing the tariffs that the troops had "journeyed to Greenland, for purposes unknown."

Trump has often said that Washington needed to control Greenland in order to better protect from Chinese and Russian threats.

"As members of NATO, we are committed to strengthening Arctic security as a shared trans-Atlantic interest," the eight countries said in their joint statement.

Denmark stands firm

The Arctic island is part of the Kingdom of Denmark and therefore also part of NATO.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen sharply criticized Trump on Sunday, saying Europe would not yield to pressure. "We are not the ones seeking this conflict," Frederiksen told Danish news agency Ritzau.

"Europe cannot be blackmailed," she said.

“The Kingdom of Denmark is receiving great support,” Frederiksen said. “At the same time, it is becoming even clearer that this is a matter that extends far beyond our own borders.”

Representatives of the EU’s 27 member states were due to meet later on Sunday in an emergency session.

Denmark, meanwhile, is intensifying diplomatic talks with European allies. Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen will travel to Oslo on Sunday, followed by visits to London and Stockholm this week, with Arctic security and the Greenland dispute high on the agenda.

Macron readies countermeasures

In France, President Emmanuel Macron is preparing to pursue a tough European response, French presidential sources said.

Macron is in contact with his European counterparts and will formally seek to trigger the European Union’s Anti-Coercion Instrument, which allows the bloc to impose countermeasures when economic pressure is used to force political decisions.

Macron is coordinating a European response to what Paris described as Trump’s "unacceptable threats," and believes Washington’s approach also calls into question the validity of a provisional EU-US tariff deal reached last year, the sources said.

That agreement, which still requires approval by the European Parliament, would see most European goods face a 15% US tariff, while tariffs on US industrial products would be scrapped.

Germany's Wadephul says tariffs won't impact NATO

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, in a television interview on Sunday, said he sees no impact from the current tariff dispute with the United States on NATO's military cohesion.

"There is absolutely no doubt that the United States of America is fully committed to the alliance, to NATO and to the defence of Europe," Wadephul told the public broadcaster programme "Report from Berlin."

"No one in Washington has questioned that so far."

He added that in Europe people should not start discussing such questions but work together on a strong alliance.

Rutte to meet with Trump in Davos

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte spoke with US President Donald Trump about the escalating dispute between the US and Europe over Greenland, Rutte said in a post on X on Sunday.

The two spoke about "the security situation in Greenland and the Arctic," the NATO chief wrote.

"We will continue working on this, and I look forward to seeing him in Davos later this week," he added.

The World Economic Forum opens on Monday in the Swiss ski resort of Davos. Trump is expected to attend on Wednesday.

Italy's Meloni as mediator?

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni warned on Sunday against an escalation of tensions.

Speaking during a visit to South Korea, Meloni described the dispute as a communication problem and said the NATO mission should not be interpreted as "anti-American."

Meloni, regarded by European leaders as having relatively good access to Trump, said she had spoken directly with him by phone. "At this stage, it is very important to talk to one another," she said.

Italy is not directly affected by the tariff threat and is not participating in the Danish-led mission.

But Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani sees a role for his country.

"I believe that Italy, due to its nature, its mediating skills and its ability to talk to everyone, can play a positive role in finding agreements," he said on Sunday, while warning about trade wars.

"There is absolutely no need for trade wars or conflicts. We need dialogue and must find solutions that do not disadvantage anyone," he said.

Germany backs coordinated European response

In Germany, Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil said Berlin would not be intimidated.

"We will not be intimidated – not by tariffs, not by words, not by threats. We must be clear about that, calm but clear," said Klingbeil, adding that Europe was being "blackmailed."

"We are currently coordinating very closely with our European partners. And there will be a European response to this threat and to yesterday’s announcement," he added. "This is where we draw the line."

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