'It's a surprise': EU leaders warn against Trump's tariffs linked to Greenland bid; cite risk to relations

European Union leaders on Saturday warned US President Donald Trump against using tariffs as leverage in his bid to acquire Greenland, cautioning that such measures could severely damage transatlantic relations.

This comes as Trump said that from February 1, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland would face a 10 per cent tariff on all goods exported to the United States.


Denmark’s Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said Trump’s comments had come as a surprise, stressing that Greenland’s security posture was already aligned with broader Arctic stability. "The purpose of the increased military presence in Greenland, to which the president refers, is precisely to enhance security in the Arctic," Rasmussen said in a statement sent to AFP.

Rasmussen added that Copenhagen was coordinating closely with Brussels and other partners on the issue. "We are in close contact with the European Commission and our other partners on the matter," he said, just days after attending talks at the White House with US and Greenlandic officials on the Greenland question.

At the EU level, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa issued a joint statement hours after Trump threatened tariffs of up to 25 per cent on multiple European nations. "Tariffs would undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral," they wrote in a post on social media.

"Europe will remain united, coordinated, and committed to upholding its sovereignty," they added.

"The EU stands in full solidarity with Denmark and the people of Greenland," the statement further said, adding, "Dialogue remains essential, and we are committed to building on the process begun already last week between the Kingdom of Denmark and the US."

In Germany, senior European Parliament member Manfred Weber warned that Trump’s latest remarks could derail the EU–US trade deal agreed last year. Weber heads the European People’s Party, the largest political group in the European Parliament.

"The EPP is in favour of the EU–U.S. trade deal, but given Donald Trump’s threats regarding Greenland, approval is not possible at this stage," Weber said in a post on X.

"The 0% tariffs on U.S. products must be put on hold," he added.

Brussels and Washington reached a preliminary agreement in July under which most EU exports would face a 15 per cent US levy. However, both sides continue to seek further concessions, leaving the future of the deal uncertain amid rising political tensions.