Davos (TDI): European leaders on Tuesday issued a firm warning to Washington over US President Donald Trump’s remarks about Greenland, pledging a united and forceful response as tensions flared ahead of the World Economic Forum in Davos.
Trump, who has repeatedly argued that the autonomous Danish territory is strategically vital for US security, suggested he was prepared to hold discussions in Davos about his plans. Asked how far he was willing to go, the president offered only a brief response: “You’ll find out.”
“We have a lot of meetings scheduled on Greenland, and I think things are going to work out pretty well,” Trump told reporters shortly before departing for Switzerland.
His comments prompted swift pushback from European leaders gathering at the forum, who closed ranks against what they see as an increasingly aggressive “America First” posture. Greenland’s prime minister also warned that, while unlikely, the use of military force could not be completely ruled out.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen led the response, cautioning that Trump’s approach risked pushing relations between the United States and the European Union into a dangerous downward spiral. She dismissed proposed US tariffs on European countries opposing Trump’s Greenland ambitions as a serious mistake.
Read More: Trump Reasserts Desire for Greenland Despite Denmark’s Opposition
French President Emmanuel Macron echoed those concerns, warning against attempts to “subordinate Europe” and calling the threat of tariffs of up to 25 percent “unacceptable.”
Trump has defended his stance by arguing that Greenland is essential to counter perceived Russian and Chinese influence. “There can be no going back,” he wrote on his Truth Social platform, insisting that control of the territory was “imperative” for security.
European leaders are now weighing possible countermeasures after Trump threatened trade levies against several European countries. Washington, however, cautioned that retaliation would be “unwise.” US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick urged European governments to keep tensions low, while US trade envoy Jamieson Greer warned against deploying aggressive trade tools.
“Our response will be unflinching, united, and proportional,” von der Leyen told business and political leaders in Davos, adding that escalating trade disputes would only benefit Europe’s adversaries.
Read More: France to Open Consulate in Greenland Next Month
Trump has continued to push the Greenland issue publicly, saying he held a “very good” call with Nato Secretary-General Mark Rutte and would meet with “various parties” during the forum. However, former Nato chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen warned that the dispute represented the most serious crisis in the alliance’s history.
“This is about the future of NATO and the world order,” Rasmussen said, arguing that attempts to placate Washington had failed.
Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen struck a similar note, saying that while military escalation remained unlikely, preparedness was essential. “Greenland is part of Nato,” he said, warning that any escalation would have global consequences.
European Union leaders are scheduled to hold an emergency summit on Greenland in Brussels on Thursday.
