European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has sharply criticized US President Donald Trump’s threat to impose new tariffs on European countries opposing his plan to take control of Greenland, calling the move a serious mistake that risks damaging relations between long-standing allies. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, she said that the announcement of a 10% tariff on imports from several European states was unjustified, particularly given the close political and economic ties between the EU and the United States.

Von der Leyen openly questioned Washington’s reliability, recalling that the EU and the US reached a trade agreement in July last year. In her words, both politics and business rely on trust, and an agreement should be respected once it is made. She underlined that Europeans regard Americans not only as allies, but as friends, warning that escalating tensions could push transatlantic relations into a dangerous downward spiral. At the same time, she stressed that if the EU is forced to respond, it will do so in a firm, united and proportionate manner.

Trump has intensified his rhetoric over Greenland in recent weeks, insisting that the United States will take control of the vast, mineral-rich Arctic island “one way or another” and declaring that there is “no going back” on the issue. On Saturday, he threatened to impose tariffs starting at 10% from 1 February, potentially rising to 25%, on imports from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland unless they withdraw their opposition to a US takeover.

After talks with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Trump reiterated on social media that Greenland is essential for US and global security. He shared AI-generated images depicting himself alongside Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio planting a US flag in Greenland next to a sign declaring it US territory from 2026. Another image showed a map portraying Canada and Greenland as part of the United States. In a separate post, Trump shared a message from French President Emmanuel Macron, who said he could not understand Washington’s actions regarding Greenland. Earlier, Trump had also threatened to impose a 200% tariff on French wine and champagne.

The standoff has further destabilized EU-US trade relations and prompted Brussels to examine possible countermeasures. These include reactivating a suspended package of tariffs on €93 billion worth of US imports, equivalent to around BGN 182 billion, or resorting to the EU’s anti-coercion instrument, a mechanism that has never been used but could restrict US access to public procurement, investment opportunities, banking services and digital markets.

Denmark’s Economy Minister Stephanie Lose warned that the issue goes far beyond Danish sovereignty, describing it as a test of the entire transatlantic relationship. She said that, at this stage, Europe should rule nothing out. Meanwhile, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent sought to calm tensions, saying relations between Washington and Europe remained strong. He urged European leaders to remain patient, dismissing what he called “hysteria” and expressing confidence that the situation would be resolved without escalation.