The Guardian: Trump’s Greenland pressure could undermine support for Ukraine

European officials warned that US President Donald Trump’s latest confrontation with Europe risks undermining Western support for Ukraine, as tensions over Greenland expose growing fractures in the transatlantic alliance at a critical moment in the war with Russia.

European governments have long tolerated unequal trade and security arrangements with Washington in the hope of preserving US military backing for Kyiv, including intelligence and advanced capabilities that Europe cannot easily replace after decades of underinvestment in defence. But Trump’s willingness to openly pressure European states has raised doubts about whether that strategy is still viable, prompting fears that Europe’s geopolitical credibility — and its commitment to Ukraine — could be weakened if it appears unable to defend its own members, The Guardian analyses. 

The dispute has sharpened after European leaders rallied behind Denmark and Greenland, warning that acquiescing to pressure over the territory would send a damaging signal about Europe’s sovereignty and its resolve in the face of coercion. Some officials have begun calling for the EU to consider deploying its powerful but untested anti-coercion instrument, a move that would mark a significant escalation in relations with Washington.

The latest tensions were triggered by Trump’s weekend announcement that eight countries — including six EU member states, as well as Norway and the UK — would face tariffs unless they agreed to a deal allowing the US to acquire Greenland. The inclusion of the UK, despite its close ties to Washington, underscored the widening scope of the dispute and deepened concerns in European capitals about the reliability of the US as an ally.

By Sabina Mammadli