The EU calls Trump

The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, called President Trump’s threat impose tariffs on eight of the United States’ NATO allies over their stance on Green Earth a “mistake” on Tuesday. Speaking at the opening of the Davos economic conference in Switzerland, Von der Leyen said Trump’s threat risked plunging Europe’s relations with the United States into a “downward spiral.”

“When it comes to the security of the Arctic region, Europe is fully committed and we share the objectives of the United States,” von der Leyen said, highlighting as an example an initiative by Finland, NATO’s newest member, to sell icebreakers to the United States.

“This shows that our northern NATO members have forces ready for the Arctic right now. And, above all, that Arctic security can only be achieved together. And that is why the proposed additional tariffs are a mistake, especially between long-standing allies. The European Union and the United States have agreed a trade deal last July“And in politics and in business, an agreement is an agreement, and when friends shake hands, it must mean something,” von der Leyen said.

Greenland has been a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark for more than 70 years, and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told the country’s parliament on Tuesday that “the worst may still be ahead” regarding the standoff with the Trump administration.

“Now we are being threatened by our closest ally,” he said, according to The News.

Both Frederiksen and Von der Leyen’s comments came after President Trump threatened to impose a blanket 10% tariff on imports from eight NATO allies, including Denmark, if they continue to reject his attempt to acquire Greenland. Trump has said those tariffs could rise to 25% in June if countries continue to resist.

Von der Leyen said the EU’s 27 member countries “consider the people of the United States not only our allies, but our friends, and sinking us into a downward spiral would only help the very adversaries that we are both so committed to keeping out of the strategic picture. Therefore, our response will be unwavering, united and proportional.”

He said the EU was working on a package of measures to further support Arctic security, the first principle of which is “full solidarity with Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark.”

“The sovereignty and integrity of its territory is non-negotiable,” von der Leyen said, adding that the EU would work with Greenland and Denmark to study how it could support infrastructure there, as well as “work with the United States and all partners on broader security in the Arctic. This is clearly in our shared interest, and we will increase investment.”

Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen, who will not attend the Davos conference, said his government had met with members of NATO and other allies, and that Western countries should be united by “respect for national and territorial integrity (and) respect for international law,” according to The News.