Triumph

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s promise to spark a wide-ranging tariff fight with Europe to get his way and seize control of Greenland has left many of the United States’ closest allies warning of a break with Washington that could tear apart the NATO alliance that once seemed unbreakable.

The top European Union official on Tuesday called Trump’s planned new tariffs on eight of his countries in Greenland a “mistake” and questioned Trump’s reliability. French President Emmanuel Macron said the EU could retaliate by deploying one of its most powerful economic tools, known colloquially as a trade “bazooka.”

Rising tensions over Greenland and threats of a deepening trade war between the United States and Europe caused global investors to shake on Tuesday, as Wall Street stocks plunged.

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Trump prides himself on increasing pressure to try to negotiate from a position of strength. He was leaving Washington on Tuesday (the anniversary of his inauguration) to attend the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, a venue that offers Trump the opportunity to defuse tensions as quickly as he raised them.

But European leaders, entrenched and vowing to defend Denmark and its control over semi-autonomous Greenland, may be trying just as hard to meet an extraordinary moment with a show of their fierce determination.

That could hurt Trump’s chances of finding a quick way to reverse the crisis. The leader of Greenland insisted on respect for its territorial integrity and described international law as “not a game.”

‘Let’s figure something out’

Trump made a rare appearance in the White House briefing room and spoke at length as stocks fell. When asked how far he would go to acquire Greenland, Trump simply said, “You’ll find out.” He also mistakenly referred to Greenland as Iceland at one point.

Still, the president predicted that a deal could be in the works. “I think we will reach an agreement that NATO will be very happy and we will be very happy,” he said, without giving details.

Trump said he had been encouraged that NATO had increased military spending, but he also disparaged the alliance, saying other members might not protect Washington’s interests. The president suggested that NATO members hope the United States will come to their rescue, but “I really wonder whether or not they will come to ours.”

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen rejected Trump’s announcement that, starting in February, a 10% import tax will be imposed on goods from eight European nations that have joined Denmark. Greenland is a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark, a member of NATO.

“The European Union and the United States agreed on a trade deal last July,” von der Leyen said in Davos. “And in politics, as in business, a deal is a deal. And when friends shake hands, it must mean something.”

“We consider the people of the United States not only our allies, but our friends. And sinking into a downward spiral would only help the very adversaries we are both so committed to keeping out of the strategic picture,” he added.

He promised that the EU’s response “will be unwavering, united and proportional.”

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Taking stronger stances challenged the approach many European leaders have offered since Trump returned to power. It had mostly involved saying nice things about the president to try to maintain his likability, while working furiously through other avenues to find a compromise.

Trump says the United States needs Greenland to deter possible threats from China and Russia. But his continued insistence in recent weeks that anything short of the United States owning Greenland is unacceptable is testing the limits of the softest strategy.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said “the worst may still be ahead.” Speaking to parliament, he said: “We have never sought conflict. We have consistently sought cooperation.”

“We need to respect international law”

Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said at a news conference in the island’s capital, Nuuk, that “we must respect international law and territorial integrity.” He said such principles should unite Western democratic countries and expressed gratitude for the support of EU allies.

“International law is not a game,” he said, adding: “We are willing to cooperate much more, but of course with mutual respect, and if we cannot see that, it will be very difficult to have a good and reliable partnership.”

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Trump’s threats have sparked outrage and a flurry of diplomatic activity across Europe, as leaders consider possible countermeasures, including retaliatory tariffs and the unprecedented use of the EU’s anti-coercion instrument.

Known unofficially as a “trade bazooka”, the instrument could sanction individuals or institutions that exert undue pressure on the EU. The EU has two other important economic tools it could use to pressure Washington: new tariffs or a suspension of the US-EU trade deal.

Macron warned in Davos that additional tariffs could force the EU to use its anti-coercion mechanism for the first time against the United States.

“Can you imagine that?” he said, arguing that allied countries should focus on bringing peace to Ukraine. “This is crazy.”

Overall, he said, the mechanism “is a powerful instrument and we should not hesitate to implement it in the current difficult environment.”

The president of the United States, in a television interview broadcast Tuesday night, downplayed the threat of retaliation.

“Whatever they do to us, I’ll deal with it,” Trump said on NewsNation’s “Katie Pavlich Tonight.” “All I have to do is face it and it will bounce back.”

Still, Trump said he believed a deal was possible, perhaps while in Davos.

Trump earlier posted a text message from Macron in which the French president suggested a meeting of members of the Group of Seven industrialized democracies in Paris after the Davos meeting. An official close to Macron, who spoke anonymously in line with standard French presidential practices, confirmed that the message shared by Trump is genuine.

In his latest tariff threat, Trump indicated that the import taxes would be retaliation for European countries deploying symbolic amounts of troops to Greenland last week, although he also suggested he was using the tariffs as leverage in negotiating with Denmark.

‘In the middle of a breakup’

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, whose country is a founding member of NATO, warned of global rifts beyond Greenland, suggesting it was an “illusion” and a “fiction” that a rules-based international order still exists.

“Let me be direct: We are in the middle of a rupture, not a transition,” Carney said during a speech in Davos.

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Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever said in Davos that Europe cannot be a “miserable slave to Trump.”

Others encouraged NATO leaders to confront Trump. Speaking on the sidelines of Davos, California Governor Gavin Newsom criticized Europe’s response to Trump’s tariff threats as “pathetic” and “shameful,” and urged continental leaders to unite and stand up to the United States.

“It’s time to stand tall and stand firm, to have character,” Newsom, a Democrat, told reporters.

Greenland’s European supporters have also considered establishing a more permanent military presence to help ensure security in the Arctic region, a key US demand, Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson said.

Meanwhile, in Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov flatly denied any intention by Russia and China to threaten Greenland, while describing Greenland as a “colonial gain” for Denmark.

Trump was asked Tuesday what would happen to his Greenland-related tariff threats if the Supreme Court rules against his ability to impose tariffs on imports as part of a case he is considering.

“Well, I’ll have to wear something else,” Trump said. “We have other alternatives.” He did not respond when asked about the use of force.

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Keaten reported from Davos, Switzerland, Burrows reported from Nuuk, Greenland. AP writers Aamer Madhani in Washington, Sylvie Corbet in Paris, Jill Lawless in London and Lorne Cook in Brussels contributed to this report.