Europe Seeks Unity in Davos as Trump’s Greenland Threat and Tariffs Test Transatlantic Ties

BY EMMANUEL OGBONNA

European leaders arrived in Davos determined to project unity after President Donald Trump’s latest foreign policy shock rattled capitals across the continent, even as business leaders cautioned against an emotional reaction to Washington’s hardline posture. Trump’s stated ambition to bring Greenland under U.S. control, coupled with threats of new tariffs against European allies who resist the idea, has sharpened concerns about the future of transatlantic relations and forced the European Union into a renewed debate over how forcefully to respond.

French President Emmanuel Macron struck a defiant tone, warning that Europe must not submit to what he described as “the law of the strongest.” Speaking at the World Economic Forum a day before Trump’s expected arrival in Switzerland, Macron said it was “crazy” that the European Union was even having to contemplate using its anti-coercion mechanism—designed to counter economic intimidation—against the United States. While acknowledging the need for global growth and stability, he emphasized that respect, not pressure or bullying, should underpin international relations.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen echoed the call for resolve, stopping short of naming Trump but pointing to what she described as seismic changes reshaping the world order. She said the speed and scale of those changes had forged a growing consensus within Europe around the need for greater strategic independence. The moment, she argued, should be seized to build a more self-reliant European Union capable of defending its interests in an increasingly volatile global environment.

Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever was more explicit in his criticism, saying the 27-nation bloc stood at a crossroads after years of trying to placate Trump in hopes of securing unwavering U.S. backing for Ukraine. Europe, he said, now faced a stark choice between unity and fragmentation. Addressing a panel discussion in Davos, De Wever argued that EU leaders must be prepared to tell the U.S. president he is crossing red lines, warning that failure to stand together would leave Europe weakened and divided.

Sweden’s Deputy Prime Minister Ebba Busch dismissed the idea that flattery or accommodation would temper Trump’s approach. She said past efforts by some European leaders to win favor through praise had proven ineffective and would not work this time. The European Union, she argued, needed to toughen its stance, maintain discipline among member states, and keep options for trade retaliation ready should diplomacy fail.

Tensions escalated further after Trump announced tariffs on imports from European countries opposing U.S. control of Greenland, an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. The move has exposed divisions within Europe over how to balance resistance to economic pressure with the imperative of preserving U.S. support for Ukraine, at a time when many governments are already under strain from rising populist and nationalist movements at home.

Macron urged fellow leaders not to accept a global order defined by power alone and called for bold measures to protect European industries. He warned against hesitation or internal division, arguing that Europe must reject a system dominated by those who believe the loudest voice should prevail. At the same time, he suggested Trump’s unpredictable policies could present an opening for Europe to position itself as a haven of stability, rule of law and predictability—qualities he said were being undervalued by markets amid global uncertainty.

Behind the scenes in Davos, however, some senior bankers and corporate executives expressed concern that European leaders were responding more emotionally than strategically. Speaking privately, several argued that while Trump’s rhetoric was abrasive, Europe risked undermining its own interests by focusing too much on style rather than substance. One senior banker said the continent faced a delicate challenge, as offense taken at Trump’s delivery was making it harder for Europe to move cohesively toward pragmatic negotiations.

European officials insist that Trump’s tariff threats violate a trade agreement reached with Washington last year, and EU leaders are preparing to debate possible countermeasures at an emergency summit in Brussels later this week. Despite the rising tension, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent sought to strike a calmer note, expressing confidence that the two sides would ultimately find a solution and avert what some fear could turn into a prolonged trade war. He urged observers not to jump to worst-case scenarios and called for restraint as talks continue.

The Davos gathering has also been shaped by the war in Ukraine, with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy signaling that he would only participate in high-level meetings if they produced concrete outcomes. He said Ukraine was ready to engage with global leaders, but only if the United States was prepared to sign binding documents on long-term security guarantees and a post-war prosperity and reconstruction plan. His comments came ahead of planned discussions among business leaders and financial executives on rebuilding Ukraine once the conflict ends.

Zelenskiy stressed that meaningful reconstruction would only be possible with lasting peace and urged Washington to intensify pressure on Russia following a fresh wave of air attacks that disrupted heating for large parts of Kyiv and damaged infrastructure critical to nuclear safety. As Europe debates how to confront Trump’s latest moves, the situation in Ukraine remains a stark reminder of the broader geopolitical stakes underpinning the tense discussions in Davos.