Top EU official warns Trump's tariff threat over Greenland pushback is 'a mistake'

The European Union's apical authoritative did not clasp backmost successful her warnings astir President Donald Trump's menace to enforce caller tariffs connected countries opposing his propulsion for the U.S. to get Greenland, a semiautonomous Danish territory.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called Trump's threats "a mistake" and questioned the U.S.'s trustworthiness, saying that the E.U.-U.S. commercialized woody from July had to "mean something."

"Arctic information tin lone beryllium achieved together. This is wherefore the projected further tariffs are a mistake, particularly betwixt long-standing allies. The E.U. and U.S. person agreed to a commercialized woody past July. And successful authorities arsenic successful concern — a woody is simply a deal. And erstwhile friends shingle hands, it indispensable mean something," Von der Leyen said.

"We see the radical of the United States not conscionable our allies, but our friends. And plunging america into a unsafe downward spiral would lone assistance the precise adversaries we are some truthful committed to keeping retired of the strategical landscape," she added, vowing the E.U.'s effect would beryllium "unflinching, agreed and proportional."

MOST AMERICANS SAY 'NO' TO GREENLAND TAKEOVER, WITH EVEN REPUBLICANS SPLIT: POLL

During the World Economic Forum successful Davos, Switzerland, E.U. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen slammed U.S. President Donald Trump's threats to enforce tariffs connected countries who defy his projected U.S. takeover of Greenland. (Harun Ozalp/Anadolu via Getty Images; Yuri Gripas/Abaca/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

French President Emmanuel Macron besides addressed the contented astatine Davos, saying that the tariffs could unit the E.U. to usage its anti-coercion mechanics against the U.S. "for the precise archetypal time," The Associated Press reported. The outlet noted that helium argued that allied countries should beryllium focused connected bringing bid to Ukraine and ending the astir four-year warfare with Russia.

Trump announced connected Saturday that starting connected Feb. 1, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the U.K., the Netherlands and Finland would look a 10% tariff connected each goods imported to the U.S. The complaint volition past summation to 25% connected June 1. The president added that "this tariff volition beryllium owed and payable until specified clip arsenic a woody is reached for the implicit and full acquisition of Greenland."

The president doubled down connected his statement that U.S. power of Greenland was indispensable to support nationalist information and American interests, saying that the acquisition would beryllium cardinal to processing the Golden Dome, a cutting-edge rocket defence strategy meant to intercept threats targeting the American homeland.

People instrumentality portion successful the "Hands Off Greenland" protest, held nether the slogans "Hands Off Greenland" and "Greenland for Greenlanders," aft the White House said that the U.S. was considering a scope of options to get Greenland, including the usage of subject force, successful Copenhagen, Denmark, Jan. 17, 2026.  (Ritzau Scanpix/Emil Helms/via Reuters)

US CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION VISITS DENMARK AMID BACKLASH OVER TRUMP'S PUSH TO ACQUIRE GREENLAND

The Trump administration's rhetoric astir Greenland has caused friction betwixt the U.S. and respective of its allies who pass that annexing the territory could pain diplomatic bridges. However, connected Tuesday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that the U.S.'s relations with Europe stay beardown and encouraged trading partners to "take a heavy breath," the AP reported.

Leaders from Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the U.K. issued a associated connection connected Tuesday, affirming their committedness arsenic NATO members to "strengthening Arctic information arsenic a shared transatlantic interest." They besides expressed their solidarity with Denmark and Greenland.

"Tariff threats undermine transatlantic relations and hazard a unsafe downward spiral. We volition proceed to basal agreed and coordinated successful our response. We are committed to upholding our sovereignty," the connection read.

Some European nations precocious tried to flex their muscles with a little unit deployment to Greenland. France, Germany, Sweden and Norway participated successful a two-day workout to bolster the Danish territory's defenses amid Trump's threats. Germany deployed a reconnaissance squad of 13 personnel, France sent 15 upland specialists and Sweden, Norway and Britain sent three, 2 and 1 officers, respectively, according to Reuters.

Visitors be the World Economic Forum yearly gathering successful Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 20, 2026. (Ludovic Marin/AFP via Getty Images)

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

In substance messages that Trump published connected Truth Social, Macron suggested a gathering of the Group of Seven (G7) nations successful Paris aft the league successful Davos. The AP reported that an authoritative adjacent to Macron confirmed the authenticity of the substance exchange. As of Jan. 20, nary specified gathering had been announced.

Fox News Digital reached retired to the White House for comment.

The Associated Press and Fox News Digital's Greg Norman-Diamond and Gillian Turner contributed to this report.