EU calls emergency meeting after Trump vows Greenland-linked tariffs — The Guardian

Ambassadors from the European Union’s 27 countries will convene today, January 18, for an emergency meeting after US President Donald Trump vowed a wave of increasing tariffs on European allies until the United States is allowed to buy Greenland.

Cyprus, which holds the six-month rotating EU presidency, said late on January 17 that it had called the meeting for January 18. EU diplomats said it was set to start at 5pm (4pm GMT)  today, Caliber.Az reports via The Guardian.

In a lengthy post on January 17 on Truth Social, Trump said he would impose a 10% tariff on Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland beginning February 1, “on any and all goods sent to the United States of America”.

He said the tariff will increase to 25% on 1 June.

“This Tariff will be due and payable until such time as a Deal is reached for the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland,” Trump said.

The president’s longstanding interest in acquiring Greenland “one way or the other” has become a fixation since the US raid that captured Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro earlier in January. While he has claimed the Arctic territory’s current status poses a national security threat to the US, this has been disputed by US allies, including Denmark.

European leaders framed the tariffs as unacceptable coercion against allies, a threat to transatlantic unity, and potentially beneficial only to adversaries like China and Russia.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and European Council President António Costa issued nearly identical statements on X, declaring the EU in "full solidarity with Denmark and the people of Greenland." They warned that "tariffs would undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral." Von der Leyen emphasized Europe's commitment to remaining "united, coordinated, and committed to upholding its sovereignty," while defending the military presence in Greenland as a legitimate effort to strengthen Arctic security with no threat to anyone.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas highlighted that "China and Russia must be having a field day" from divisions among allies, stressing that any Greenland security concerns should be handled inside NATO rather than through economic pressure. She added that tariffs would make both Europe and the US poorer and undermine shared prosperity.

French leader Emmanuel Macron called the threats "unacceptable" and said "no intimidation or threat will influence us" — linking it to a similar resolve on Ukraine.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer (UK) described applying tariffs on allies for NATO-related security as "completely wrong."

Other figures (e.g., from Norway, Sweden, Finland, and the Netherlands) echoed that threats have "no place among allies" and emphasised dialogue over pressure.

By Khagan Isayev