After Donald Trump threatened on Saturday, January 17, to raise tariffs against Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland if Greenland was not “entirely sold” to the US, the Europeans responded without delay. They were determined not to repeat the image of a paralyzed European Union they had shown in 2025, when Trump repeatedly targeted them.

While the 27 member states have not yet agreed on confronting Washington, there has been an undeniable shift in attitude. Germany led the way, with Chancellor Friedrich Merz appearing much less hesitant than his predecessor, Olaf Scholz, and more aligned with the position of his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron.

The president of the European Council, Antonio Costa, was to gather the heads of state and government in Brussels on Thursday, January 22, for an extraordinary summit. By then, the Europeans would have had the opportunity to cross paths with Trump in Davos, Switzerland, during the upcoming World Economic Forum (January 19-23), and gauge his resolve.

“Tariff threats are unacceptable (…). Europeans will respond in a united and coordinated manner should they be confirmed,” Macron wrote on the social media X on Saturday evening. “We will not allow ourselves to be blackmailed,” wrote Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, adding that “only Denmark and Greenland decide on issues concerning Denmark and Greenland.” Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen also said that “Europe won’t be blackmailed.”

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