Trump tariff risk over Greenland ‘unacceptable’, European leaders say | EUROtoday

A risk by US President Donald Trump to impose contemporary tariffs on eight allies against his proposed takeover of Greenland has drawn condemnation from European leaders.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer mentioned the transfer was “completely wrong”, whereas French President Emmanuel Macron known as it “unacceptable”.

The feedback got here after Trump introduced a ten% tariff on items from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands and Finland would come into power on 1 February, however might later rise to 25% – and would final till a deal was reached.

Trump insists the autonomous Danish territory is vital for US safety and has not dominated out taking it by power.

Following Trump’s threats, the European Union known as an emergency assembly for 17:00 in Brussels (16:00 GMT) on Sunday. The assembly will contain ambassadors from the EU’s 27 international locations, in response to the Reuters information company.

Meanwhile, hundreds of individuals took to the streets in Greenland and Denmark on Saturday in protest on the proposed US takeover.

Greenland is sparsely populated however resource-rich and its location between North America and the Arctic makes it nicely positioned for early warning techniques within the occasion of missile assaults and for monitoring vessels within the area.

Trump has beforehand mentioned Washington would get the territory “the easy way” or “the hard way”.

European international locations have rallied to Denmark’s assist. They have argued that the safety of the Arctic area must be a joint Nato duty.

France, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Finland, the Netherlands and the UK have dispatched a small variety of troops to Greenland in a so-called reconnaissance mission.

Announcing the brand new tariffs in a submit on his Truth Social platform on Saturday, Trump mentioned these international locations had been enjoying “a very dangerous game”. At stake, he mentioned, was the “Safety, Security, and Survival of our Planet”.

He mentioned the proposed 10% levy to be launched subsequent month on items exported to the US would rise to 25% in June and stay “payable until such time as a Deal is reached for the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland”.

In his response, Starmer mentioned: “Applying tariffs on allies for pursuing the collective security of Nato allies is completely wrong. We will of course be pursuing this directly with the US administration.”

UK opposition leaders additionally criticised Trump’s announcement. Conservative Party chief Kemi Badenoch mentioned the tariffs had been a “terrible idea”, whereas Reform UK chief and Trump ally Nigel Farage mentioned they “will hurt us”.

Liberal Democrat chief Ed Davey known as Trump’s behaviour “unhinged” however mentioned how the UK responds “matters a lot”.

Green MP Ellie Chowns mentioned the US president “treats the international stage like a schoolyard playground, attempting to bully and brute force other countries into compliance with his imperialist agenda”.

France’s Emmanuel Macron mentioned: “Tariff threats are unacceptable in this context… We will not be swayed by any intimidation.”

Swedish PM Ulf Kristersson mentioned: “We won’t let ourselves be blackmailed.”

“Sweden is currently having intensive discussions with other EU countries, Norway and the United Kingdom to find a joint response,” he added.

In a submit on X, European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen, mentioned: “Territorial integrity and sovereignty are fundamental principles of international law.”

“Tariffs would undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral,” she added.

Trump will face von der Leyen and different European leaders comparable to Macron on the annual World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland this week.

EU overseas coverage chief Kaja Kallas mentioned “China and Russia must be having a field day” following Trump’s announcement.

“They are the ones who benefit from divisions among Allies”, she wrote on X.

European Council President Antonio Costa acknowledged: “The European Union will always be very firm in defending international law… which of course begins within the territory of the member states of the European Union.”

Denmark’s overseas minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen mentioned the risk had “come as a surprise”.

Meanwhile, German MEP Manfred Weber, head of the conservative EPP group within the European Parliament, mentioned Trump’s transfer raised questions concerning the still-to-be-ratified EU-US commerce deal negotiated final yr.

Brussels and Washington clinched a deal that agreed a US tariff on all EU items of 15% and that the 27-member bloc would open its markets to US exporters with 0% tariffs on sure merchandise.

“The EPP is in favour of the EU-US trade deal, but given Donald Trump’s threats regarding Greenland, approval is not possible at this stage,” Weber posted on X. “The 0% tariffs on US products must be put on hold,” he added.

The US ambassador to the UN, Mike Waltz, nonetheless, mentioned Denmark “just doesn’t have the resources or the capacity to do what needs to be done in the northern region”.

He instructed Fox News the lifetime of Greenlanders can be “safer, stronger and more prosperous under the umbrella of the United States”.

Trump has typically mused that “tariff” is his favorite phrase, and he has made clear that he views it as one thing of a blunt instrument with which to persuade – or coerce – international locations world wide to align their insurance policies with the specified outcomes of the White House.

But his announcement represents a big escalation in his just lately rekindled drive to accumulate Greenland, regardless of their opposition.

It is unclear what instantly prompted the tariffs announcement, which Trump first hinted at whereas chatting with reporters on the White House on Friday.

While in latest weeks he has repeatedly mentioned that a wide range of choices – together with the potential use of army power – remained on the desk, the announcement comes simply days after US and Danish officers agreed to arrange a high-level working group to debate the way forward for the island.

In Washington’s diplomatic and political circles, that announcement was seen by many as a “best-case” situation for Denmark and its European allies – one that will, on the very least, delay any resolution or additional escalation from the White House.

Instead, the newest tariffs have injected a newfound sense of urgency into the problem and strained relations with necessary Nato allies and buying and selling companions.

Gregory Meeks, the rating Democrat on the US House Foreign Affairs Committee, mentioned he’ll “be offering a resolution to terminate these illegal and absurd tariffs immediately”.

He mentioned: “Trump is manufacturing a foreign crisis and sabotaging our closest alliance – all while ignoring the real crisis the American people actually care about: affordability.”

Opinion polls recommend 85% of Greenlanders oppose the territory becoming a member of the US.

Demonstrations in opposition to Trump’s takeover plans had been held in Danish cities in addition to in Greenland’s capital, Nuuk, on Saturday – earlier than the tariff announcement.

In the Danish capital, Copenhagen, placards had been held up studying: “Hands Off Greenland” and “Greenland for Greenlanders”.

“We demand respect for the Danish Realm and for Greenland’s right to self-determination,” mentioned Camilla Siezing, heads of Inuit, an umbrella group of Greenlandic associations.

In Nuuk, Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen joined protesters holding indicators studying “Greenland is not for sale” and “we shape our future” as they headed for the US consulate.

The rallies coincide with a go to to Copenhagen by a delegation from the US Congress. Its chief, Democratic Senator Chris Coons, described Mr Trump’s rhetoric as “not constructive”.