The countries of the European Union (EU) today demonstrated their “unity” and “firmness” in support of Denmark and Greenland after the crisis with the United States, and warned of retaliation in the event of a new escalation in transatlantic relations that they consider damaged by the vagaries of Donald Trump.
The heads of State and Government of the Twenty-seven sent this message at the urgently convened summit last weekend to address the threats launched by the American president, Donald Trump, against several European countries, after reiterating his desire to take control of the Arctic island belonging to Denmark.
The meeting took place towards the end of a week of frenetic diplomatic activity on various fronts, with the European machinery at maximum performance in Brussels to respond to an unprecedented crisis in relations with Washington and a succession of contacts between leaders and messages sent from the Davos Forum (Switzerland).
From there, Trump backed down on his threats to use military force and resort again to tariffs as a pressure measure, and announced an agreement in principle on the security of Greenland with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, which he said satisfied all parties.
Non-negotiable sovereignty and territorial integrity
At the summit, the EU showed its willingness to play “a stronger role” in the Arctic, mainly in cooperation with NATO and based on its “shared interests,” according to the President of the European Council, António Costa, at the end of the meeting.
Along the same lines, the president of the European Commission (EC), Ursula Von der Leyen, said that the Twenty-seven will intensify their investments and security efforts in the region.
Costa, however, warned that “only Denmark and Greenland can decide on matters relating to Denmark and Greenland,” adding that the EU “will continue to defend its interests and protect itself and its Member States” against “any form of coercion.”
The EU “has the power and the tools to do it and will do it if and when necessary,” he stressed.
The leaders participating in the summit did not refer to the pre-agreement reached between Rutte and Trump, the details of which have not been made public. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen reiterated before the meeting that her country cannot negotiate over its own sovereignty and that any agreement must respect the territorial integrity of Denmark and Greenland.
Prepare for the next crisis
European leaders welcomed the de-escalation by the Republican president although they pointed out the need to protect themselves against future maneuvers of the same type, in addition to pointing out the growing distrust towards their partner on the other side of the Atlantic.
The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security, Kaja Kallas, stated that the relationship with the United States “has suffered a serious blow” due to the threats to Greenland and that this “benefits Russia and China.”
French President Emmanuel Macron said the EU “will remain vigilant” and will use the instruments at its disposal to respond if any of its partners come under pressure again.
The French president stressed that the events of recent days have shown that “when Europe is united, strong, and reacts quickly, things return to order and calm” and that “when it is threatened it can make itself respected.”
The Austrian Chancellor, the conservative Christian Stocker, assured for his part that the EU has to prepare for possible new crises with the US in which “individual countries or the European Union are once again threatened” with trade or economic policy measures.
Along the same lines, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson stated that although the escalation has damaged trust between European countries and Washington, “there is never anything that cannot be fixed.”
Possible retaliation
“We will remain extremely vigilant and ready to use our instruments if we are again under threat,” warned Macron, who appeared again wearing sunglasses due to a stroke in his eye.
The French president thus alluded to the retaliations available to the EU that were going to be on the meeting table today before Trump withdrew his tariff threats, while other leaders also pointed to the deterrent effect that these measures may have had.
Specifically, the EU was considering applying tariffs against Washington worth 93 billion euros and even launching the EU’s anti-coercion instrument, also known as the “trade bazooka.”
“It has been shown that the unity and determination of the European side can indeed have an effect,” said German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
