European leaders say Trump tariff threat on Greenland ‘unacceptable’ & more related News Here

European leaders have condemned US President Donald Trump’s threat to impose new tariffs on eight allies who oppose his proposed annexation of Greenland.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the move was “completely wrong”, while French President Emmanuel Macron called it “unacceptable”.

The comments came as Trump announced 10% tariffs on goods from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands and Finland would take effect Feb. 1, but could later be increased to 25% — and would remain in place until a deal is reached.

Trump says the autonomous Danish territory is vital to US security and has not ruled out taking it by force.

Following Trump’s threats, the EU called an emergency meeting in Brussels on Sunday at 17:00 (16:00 GMT). According to Reuters news agency, ambassadors from 27 countries of the European Union will attend the meeting.

Meanwhile, thousands of people took to the streets in Greenland and Denmark on Saturday to protest against the proposed US takeover.

Greenland is sparsely populated but resource-rich and its location between North America and the Arctic makes it well-positioned to establish early warning systems in the event of missile attacks and to monitor ships in the area.

Trump had previously said Washington would get the territory either “the easy way” or “the hard way.”

European countries have gathered in support of Denmark. He has argued that the security of the Arctic region should be a joint responsibility of NATO.

France, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Finland, the Netherlands and the UK have sent small numbers of troops to Greenland in so-called reconnaissance missions.

Announcing the new tariffs in a post on his Truth social platform on Saturday, Trump said those countries were playing a “very dangerous game.” “The safety, security and survival of our planet” is at stake, he said.

He said the 10% levy proposed next month on goods exported to the US would rise to 25% in June and “remain payable until an agreement is reached for the full and total purchase of Greenland”.

In her response, Starmer said: “It is completely wrong to impose tariffs on allies for the sake of the collective security of NATO allies. We will certainly be raising this issue directly with the US administration.”

Britain’s opposition leaders also criticized Trump’s announcement. Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch said the tariffs were a “terrible idea”, while Reform UK leader and Trump ally Nigel Farage said they would “hurt us”.

Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey called Trump’s behavior “unconscionable”, but said how Britain responded “matters a lot”.

Green MP Ellie Chowns said the US president “treats the international stage like a school playground, attempting to intimidate and brutally force other countries into compliance with his imperialist agenda”.

France’s Emmanuel Macron said: “Threats of tariffs are unacceptable in this context… We will not be swayed by any threats.”

Swedish PM Ulf Kristersson said, “We will not allow ourselves to be blackmailed.”

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

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

“Tariffs would weaken transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous deterioration,” he said.

Trump will face other European leaders like von der Leyen and Macron at the annual World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland this week.

“China and Russia should have a field day,” EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said after Trump’s announcement.

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

European Council President Antonio Costa said: “The EU will always be very resolute in defending international law… which of course starts within the territory of EU member states.”

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said the threat was “surprising”.

Meanwhile, German MEP Manfred Weber, head of the conservative EPP group in the European Parliament, said Trump’s move raised questions about the still-ratifying EU-US trade deal negotiated last year.

Brussels and Washington reached a deal agreeing to US tariffs of 15% on all EU goods and the 27-member bloc will open its markets to US exporters with 0% tariffs on some products.

“The EPP is in favor of an EU-US trade agreement, but given Donald Trump’s threats regarding Greenland, approval is not possible at this stage,” Weber posted on Twitter. “0% tariffs on American products should be stopped,” he said.

However, US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz said Denmark “does not have the resources or capacity to do what needs to be done in the northern region”.

He told Fox News that Greenlanders’ lives would be “safer, stronger and more prosperous under the umbrella of the United States.”

Trump has often thought that “tariff” is his favorite word, and he has made clear that he sees it as a blunt instrument with which to persuade – or force – countries around the world to align their policies with the White House’s desired outcomes.

But his announcement represents a significant escalation in his recently restarted campaign to acquire Greenland, despite his opposition.

It’s unclear what happened immediately after the tariffs were announced, which Trump first hinted at while speaking to reporters at the White House on Friday.

While he has repeatedly said in recent weeks that a number of options remain on the table, including the possible use of military force, the announcement comes just days after US and Danish officials agreed to form a high-level working group to discuss the future of the island.

In Washington diplomatic and political circles, that announcement was seen by many as a “best-case” scenario for Denmark and its European allies – a scenario that would, at the very least, delay any White House decision or move forward.

Instead, the latest tariffs have added a new sense of urgency to the issue and strained relations with key NATO allies and trading partners.

Gregory Meeks, the ranking Democrat on the US House Foreign Affairs Committee, said he would introduce a resolution “to immediately end these illegal and absurd tariffs”.

He said: “Trump is creating a foreign crisis and damaging our closest alliances — all while ignoring the real crisis the American people really care about: affordability.”

Opinion polls show that 85% of Greenlanders oppose the territory’s annexation to the US.

Protests against Trump’s takeover plans took place in Danish cities as well as in the Greenland capital Nuuk on Saturday, ahead of the tariffs’ announcement.

In the Danish capital, Copenhagen, placards reading “Hands off Greenland” and “Greenland for Greenlanders” were waved.

“We demand respect for Danish territory and Greenland’s right to self-determination,” said Camilla Sizing, head of the Inuit, a group of Greenlandic unions.

In Nuuk, Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Fredrik Nielsen joined protesters holding signs reading “Greenland is not for sale” and “We shape our future” as they marched towards the US Consulate.

These rallies coincided with the visit of a US congressional delegation to Copenhagen. Its leader, Democratic Senator Chris Coons, described Mr Trump’s rhetoric as “not constructive”.