Emergency Meeting in Brussels After Trump Tariffs UPD

efsyn.gr

18.01.26 

European countries are preparing a coordinated response to the US president

In a move to further pressure those resisting his plans for the conquest of Greenland, US President Donald Trump threatened to impose 10% tariffs on the eight NATO countries (including the United Kingdom, France, and Germany) that sent soldiers to the island. These are Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Finland.

Reactions were expected, and now these countries – using either moderate or strong tones – are preparing to give their own response to Trump, which will come after joint coordination.

As announced by Cyprus (which holds the rotating six-month presidency of the EU), ambassadors from the 27 member states of the European Union were called to an emergency meeting in Brussels on Sunday. EU diplomats stated that the meeting is scheduled to begin at 6 PM.

Earlier, the German government spokesperson stated that the relevant decisions would be taken jointly with European partners. "The German government has taken note of the statements by the US president. It is in close coordination with its European partners. Together, in due course, we will decide on the appropriate reactions," stated Stefan Cornelius.

French President Emmanuel Macron raised the tone, characterizing the impending US tariff increases as "unacceptable," while simultaneously stating that Paris supports the principle of independence and sovereignty of Nations and that "no intimidation and no threat" affect its stance on Ukraine, Greenland, and the rest of the world. The French president underlined France's absolute respect for the United Nations Charter, pointing out that this is why Paris supported and will continue to support Ukraine by building an alliance of states to achieve lasting and stable peace. "Based on this Principle, we decided to participate in the military exercise decided by Denmark in Greenland," considering that Arctic security concerns Europe.

Referring specifically to the tariff increases, the French president described them as unacceptable and out of place, saying that Europeans would respond in a unified and coordinated manner if these tariff increases are implemented. "We will defend European sovereignty," the French president stated, noting that in this spirit, he would consult with France's partners in Europe.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned Trump's tariffs, calling them "completely wrong" and pointing out that Greenland is part of Denmark and "its future is a matter for Greenlanders and Danes." As he stressed, "our position on Greenland is very clear," adding that "we have made it clear that Arctic security matters to the entire NATO, and allies should all do more together to address the threat from Russia in various parts of the Arctic. Imposing tariffs on allies for the pursuit of the collective security of NATO allies is completely wrong."

Trump's tariffs "come as a surprise," said Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen. "The purpose of the increased military presence in Greenland, to which the US president refers, is precisely to strengthen security in the Arctic," he stressed, adding that "we are in close contact with the European Commission and our other partners on the matter."

"The EU expresses its full solidarity with Denmark and the people of Greenland... tariffs would undermine transatlantic relations and pose the risk of a dangerous downward spiral," stressed European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in her message on X. As she added, "territorial integrity and sovereignty are fundamental principles of international law. They are essential for Europe and for the international community as a whole. We have repeatedly emphasized our common transatlantic interest in peace and security in the Arctic, including through NATO. Denmark's pre-coordinated exercise, conducted with allies, responds to the need to strengthen security in the Arctic and poses no threat to anyone."

The President of the European Commission also noted that "the EU expresses its full solidarity with Denmark and the people of Greenland. Dialogue remains essential, and we are committed to building on the process already initiated last week between the Kingdom of Denmark and the US. Tariffs would undermine transatlantic relations and pose the risk of a dangerous downward spiral. Europe will remain united, coordinated, and committed to defending its sovereignty."

A message that "Europe will remain absolutely firm in defending international law" was sent to Washington by the President of the European Council, António Costa. Costa announced that he is proceeding with the coordination of a common response from the EU member states to these threats, without however naming the American president.

"The European Union will always be absolutely firm in defending international law, everywhere and, of course, starting from the territory of its member states. At this moment, I am coordinating a common response from the European Union member states on this specific issue," he stated from Asunción, Paraguay, shortly after the signing of the EU-Mercosur trade agreement. He underlined that this agreement is not only about creating the world's largest economic zone but also about sending a clear political message. "Today, what the world needs is not conflict, but peace; not confrontation between countries, but cooperation. It is fundamental to defend international law wherever it is violated," he also noted.

Tariffs imposed by the United States on European allies undermine prosperity on both sides of the Atlantic and play into the hands of China and Russia, stated the head of European diplomacy, Kaja Kallas. "China and Russia must be happy today. They are the ones who benefit from divisions among allies," Kallas wrote in a post on the X platform and stressed: "Tariffs risk making Europe and the United States poorer and undermining our common prosperity. If Greenland's security is at risk, we can address it within NATO."