The European Union has called an emergency meeting of ambassadors for Sunday after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to impose tariffs on several European allies in a bid to pressure them into allowing the U.S. to purchase Greenland, sparking widespread condemnation and fears of a transatlantic trade war.
On Saturday, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a 10% tariff on eight NATO allies—Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Norway, Sweden, and Finland—effective February 1, with plans to increase it to 25% by June 1 unless a deal is reached for the United States to purchase Greenland. He justified the move by citing recent NATO troop deployments to Greenland for security exercises, which he claimed were ‘for purposes unknown.’ This threat is part of Trump’s longstanding ambition to acquire Greenland, a Danish territory that has consistently rejected such overtures.
In response, the European Union has convened an emergency meeting of ambassadors from all 27 member states for Sunday afternoon in Brussels to coordinate a firm and united response. European Council President António Costa condemned the tariffs, stating that ‘we must open markets, not close them,’ and emphasized the EU’s commitment to international law. The meeting aims to assess the situation and plan a collective strategy, with national security advisers already in contact.
EU leaders have sharply criticized Trump’s actions, warning of severe consequences for transatlantic relations. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said tariffs would ‘undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral,’ while defending the NATO exercises as necessary for Arctic security. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas noted that ‘China and Russia must be having a field day’ with the divisions, urging that security issues be addressed within NATO frameworks.
The tariff threat has jeopardized a recently negotiated EU-U.S. trade deal, which was designed to avoid hefty tariffs and boost economic cooperation. European Parliament members, including Bernd Lange and Manfred Weber, have called for the suspension of the deal’s implementation until the U.S. ends its threats. This opposition makes it unlikely that the trade agreement will be approved in its current form, highlighting the economic stakes involved.
In the United States, bipartisan criticism has emerged from lawmakers concerned about the economic and diplomatic fallout. Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Thom Tillis, co-chairs of the Senate NATO Observer Group, urged the administration to ‘turn off the threats and turn on diplomacy,’ warning that tariffs would raise prices for American consumers. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer announced plans to introduce legislation to block the tariffs, citing potential harm to the U.S. economy.
Geopolitically, the crisis underscores growing tensions within NATO and the EU’s unity in the face of external pressure. European leaders like French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer have vowed to stand firm, with Macron stating that ‘no intimidation or threats will influence us.’ Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson emphasized that European countries ‘will not let ourselves be blackmailed’ and are working on a coordinated response with Norway and the U.K.
Looking ahead, the emergency meeting on Sunday will be crucial in determining the EU’s next steps, which could include retaliatory measures or diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the conflict. The outcome will have lasting implications for trade, security, and political alliances between Europe and the United States, with stakeholders on both sides calling for restraint to prevent a full-blown trade war.
