Von der Leyen promises 'unflinching, united and proportional' response to US tariffs
The European Union will respond in an "unflinching, united and proportional" manner to American threats linked to Greenland, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said on Tuesday at the World Economic Forum in Davos. She also announced that the EU was working on a package to support Arctic security.
Her remarks followed US president Donald Trump’s announcement over the weekend of tariffs against eight European countries that have sent military personnel to Greenland. Trump doubled down on Tuesday, saying "we have to have it" and "Europe can't protect it".
In response, an extraordinary meeting of EU heads of state and government is scheduled for Thursday, while both France and the European Parliament have called for the bloc’s anti-coercion instrument to be used against the US. The Parliament has already postponed a vote on an own-initiative report on EU-US relations that was due to take place on Wednesday.
'Dangerous path'
Von der Leyen stressed that the EU and the US shared common objectives around the Arctic. "When it comes to the security of the Arctic region, Europe is fully committed," she said, pointing to Finland’s sale of icebreakers to the US as evidence that "Arctic security can only be achieved together".
Against that backdrop, she criticised the proposed tariffs, calling them "a mistake, especially between long-standing allies." She warned that escalating trade measures would plunge the EU and the US on a dangerous path, which would only help their adversaries. "So our response will be unflinching, united and proportional."
"When it comes to the security of the Arctic region, Europe is fully committed"
At the same time, Von der Leyen underlined the need for a strategic response beyond tariffs. The EU is preparing "a massive European investment surge in Greenland", aimed at supporting the local economy and infrastructure. She also announced plans to strengthen cooperation with other regional partners, including the UK, Canada, Norway and Iceland.
While Von der Leyen struck a cautious tone, Belgian prime minister Bart De Wever adopted a more direct approach. Speaking to VRT NWS, ahead of a meeting with Trump on Wednesday, De Wever argued EU should consider using its anti-coercion instrument.
"There is no more room for leniency here. If someone says, ‘I want to take NATO territory away from you, or else I will start a trade war,’ then we will start a trade war," De Wever said. "I believe we should tell Trump: this is as far as we go. Back down or we will go all the way."
© PHOTO FABRICE COFFRINI / AFP
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