Europe is preparing to counter threats of tariffs from U.S. President Donald Trump following his demand that the United States be allowed to purchase Greenland, officials said Monday.
Response to Trump’s Greenland Demand
“We will not allow ourselves to be blackmailed,” said German Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil at a press conference in Berlin alongside French Economy and Finance Minister Roland Lescure.
Trump vowed on Saturday to impose tariffs of up to 25 percent on European countries, including Denmark – of which Greenland is an autonomous territory – unless Greenland is ceded to the United States.
Britain, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden jointly condemned the threat over the weekend.
Klingbeil outlined three potential responses from Europe. First, the current tariff agreement with the United States could be suspended. Second, European tariffs on U.S. imports, currently paused until early February, could be reinstated. And third, the EU should consider utilizing its existing economic tools to respond to what he termed “economic blackmail” from Washington.
Lescure echoed Klingbeil’s assessment, stating that Trump’s threat amounted to “blackmail.”
“Blackmail between allies of 250 years, blackmail between friends, is obviously unacceptable,” Lescure said. “We Europeans must remain united and coordinated in our response and, above all, be prepared to make full use of the instruments” of the European Union. “We are determined to defend our sovereignty.”
A meeting of G7 finance ministers will be held in the coming days to discuss pressing issues, including the situation with Greenland, with France currently chairing the group.
Klingbeil emphasized that a “limit has been reached” regarding threats from the U.S. leader. “We are constantly experiencing a new confrontation that President Trump is seeking,” he said.
Discover more from Archyworldys
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
