Trump’s Latest Move on Greenland Unites Europe
A woman pulls her children on a sled during a protest against President Trump's policy toward Greenland in front of the US Consulate in Nuuk on Saturday. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
European leaders rallied behind Denmark on Saturday after President Trump threatened to impose new tariffs unless the United States is permitted to purchase Greenland. Leaders across the European Union condemned the move and pledged a coordinated response, stressing that Europe would remain united in defending its sovereignty, according to Euronews.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and other officials criticized the threat, warning that economic pressure would not sway Europe’s position. EU Council President António Costa said he would help organize a collective response from the bloc. Macron wrote on X that “no intimidation or threat will influence us,” adding that tariff pressure would be met with a joint reply if implemented. He compared backing Greenland to Europe’s support for Ukraine following Russia’s invasion. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said Europe “will not allow ourselves to be blackmailed,” emphasizing that decisions affecting Denmark and Greenland belong solely to them.
In Denmark, the government said it was caught off guard by President Trump’s announcement and was consulting closely with European partners. Danish lawmaker Pelle Dragsted called for a strong EU response, saying the bloc should “hit back hard.”
In Greenland, thousands of demonstrators marched across snow and ice to protest the proposal, waving Greenlandic flags and chanting, “Greenland is not for sale.” The marchers walked from downtown Nuuk to the U.S. Consulate, where they learned of President Trump’s announcement. Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen joined the protest. Nuuk police officer Tom Olsen said it was the largest demonstration he had seen, adding that it showed Europeans were standing together.
Protests also took place in Copenhagen and in Nunavut, a Canadian territory governed by the Inuit. In Copenhagen, demonstrator Elise Riechie said the issue mattered globally, noting that “many small countries” exist and “none of them are for sale.”
The dispute has also reopened debate over a 2023 EU-US trade agreement that eliminated tariffs on many American industrial goods while increasing some duties on European exports. Lawmakers in the European Parliament are now urging the EU to suspend the deal and consider using its “anti-coercion instrument,” which allows the bloc to restrict market access or public contracts in response to economic pressure. Trade committee chair Bernd Lange accused President Trump of using trade as political leverage, while conservative leader Manfred Weber called for freezing parliamentary approval of the agreement.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas warned that divisions among allies would benefit rivals, saying China and Russia stood to gain from the dispute.
Among the Greenland protesters was Marie Pedersen, who brought her children to the march. She said it was important to protect their country, culture, and family. Her nine-year-old daughter said teachers had discussed the issue at school, explaining NATO and how to stand up to bullying by other countries.
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