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The eight nations that Trump has targeted for new tariffs said in a joint statement that they “stand in full solidarity” with Denmark and the citizens of Greenland, a semi-autonomous Danish territory, on Sunday.
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We are prepared to engage in a dialogue based on the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity that we firmly support, according to the statements from Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.
Threatening tariffs could lead to a dangerous downward spiral and undermine transatlantic relations. In our response, we will remain cohesion- and coordinated. Our goal is to defend our independence.
The criticism came as European officials were holding urgent discussions to plan a strategy for retaliation for Trump’s growing pressure campaign on the island’s future.
Prior to the upcoming extraordinary meeting of member states scheduled for the following days, European Council President Antonio Costa stated on Sunday that the group was committed to upholding national sovereignty and “defend ourselves against any form of coercion.”
Retaliatory tariffs and market restrictions for US companies are expected to be discussed by European officials.
Trump made the announcement on Saturday that the eight nations would be subject to a 10% tariff starting on February 1 and rising to 25% starting on June 1 until a US purchase of Greenland is reached.
According to The Financial Times, the bloc was considering implementing the bloc’s 2023 Anti-Coercion Instrument, known as the “trade bazooka,” and imposing 93 billion euros ($108bn) worth of tariffs on US goods.
The never-used mechanism places severe restrictions on investments and removes protections for foreign companies in the bloc.
German MEP Bernd Lange, who chairs the European Parliament’s trade committee, wrote in a post on X that “the Anti-Coercion Instrument (ACI), designed specifically for such cases, must now be used.”
“I urge the European Commission to immediately activate it .”
Trump’s insistence on controlling Greenland has stifled US-European relations, raising doubts about NATO’s future.
Trump has shied away from concerns about splitting the 32-member transatlantic alliance, which is founded on the idea that an armed attack on any one member would be considered an attack on all. He has not yet rejected the use of military force to seize the territory.
In a social media post early on Monday, Trump asserted that Denmark had been “unable to do anything” in response to Russian threats to the region. He also stated that he had been “unable to do anything” to take control of Greenland.
“Now it is time, and it will be finished!” Trump stated on Truth Social.
Greenland’s sale to Denmark has been ruled out, and polls indicate that the island’s 57, 000 residents do not want to be in the US.
In a vigil on Saturday, thousands of protesters slammed the threat Trump has made and chanted “Greenland is not for sale” while holding banners with the slogan “Hands off Greenland.”
Mette Frederiksen, the prime minister of Denmark, praised the “strong support” being offered to her nation on Sunday.
“We want to cooperate, but conflict is not our goal,” he said. And I’m pleased that the rest of the continent consistently says, “Europe won’t be blackmailed,” Frederiksen said in a social media statement.
No intimidation or threat, according to French President Emmanuel Macron, would influence Greenland’s position.
On social media, Macron declared that “tariff threats are unacceptable and have no place in this situation.”
Should they be confirmed, “Europeans will respond in a coordinated and united manner.” We will make sure that all of Europe’s laws are upheld.
Trump’s planned tariffs, according to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, are “completely wrong.”
Source: Aljazeera
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