BY EMMANUEL OGBONNA
U.S. President Donald Trump’s renewed threats to annex Greenland and impose punitive tariffs on European countries opposing the move have triggered alarm across the European Union, with senior officials warning that the dispute strikes at the heart of Europe’s security, core principles and economic stability.
European Council President António Costa said on Wednesday that relations between Europe and the United States are facing a defining test, prompting him to convene an emergency summit of the EU’s 27 national leaders in Brussels on Thursday. The meeting is expected to focus on how the bloc should respond to what many officials see as an unprecedented challenge from its closest ally.
“All these three dimensions are being tested in the current moment of transatlantic relations,” Costa said, referring to security, values and prosperity. He added that Trump’s posture toward Greenland has shaken confidence in Washington not only across Europe but also in Canada, another long-standing U.S. partner.
Trump has repeatedly argued that the United States should “acquire” Greenland, citing strategic and security concerns tied to the Arctic region and its growing geopolitical importance. Greenland, a mineral-rich island with vast reserves of rare earths and other critical resources, is a semi-autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. While Copenhagen oversees its foreign and defense policy, Greenland’s internal affairs are largely self-governed.
European officials say Trump’s stance has eroded trust and raised fears that long-established norms governing borders and sovereignty are being called into question. Those concerns have deepened after Denmark moved to reinforce its presence in Greenland by sending a military reconnaissance force to the island. Small contingents from several other European countries have joined the mission, and Danish authorities are now weighing the possibility of a more permanent military presence.
Costa said EU leaders are united in their defense of international law, territorial integrity and national sovereignty, principles the bloc has emphasized repeatedly in its support for Ukraine following Russia’s invasion. He warned that those same principles are now under pressure in the Arctic.
Speaking earlier to lawmakers at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Costa underlined that decisions about Greenland’s future rest solely with Copenhagen and Nuuk. “Only Denmark and Greenland can decide their future,” he said, rejecting any notion that outside powers could impose their will.
He also cautioned that further U.S. tariffs would inflict lasting damage on transatlantic ties and clash directly with the EU–U.S. trade agreement reached last July. That deal, designed to ease trade tensions and stabilize economic relations, still requires approval from European lawmakers, some of whom have threatened to withhold their backing if Trump follows through on his tariff threats.
“We stand ready to defend ourselves, our member states, our citizens and our companies against any form of coercion,” Costa said. “The European Union has the power and the tools to do so.”
Across Europe, Trump’s rhetoric has prompted a broader reassessment of relations with Washington and renewed debate over the continent’s reliance on American security guarantees. While the United States remains NATO’s most powerful member, officials in several capitals say the Greenland dispute underscores the need for Europe to strengthen its own strategic autonomy.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, long considered one of Europe’s strongest advocates of close transatlantic ties, struck an unusually blunt tone in a social media post on Tuesday. “Appeasement is always a sign of weakness,” Tusk wrote. “Europe cannot afford to be weak — neither against its enemies, nor an ally.” He added that European assertiveness and self-confidence had become “the need of the moment.”
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen echoed that sentiment, warning lawmakers that the EU is “at a crossroads.” As head of the commission, which manages trade policy on behalf of member states, she said the bloc is prepared to respond swiftly and decisively if Washington imposes new tariffs.
“If necessary, we will act with unity, urgency and determination,” von der Leyen said, emphasizing that the EU’s response would be coordinated and proportional.
She also outlined steps aimed at reinforcing Europe’s presence and influence in Greenland, telling lawmakers that the commission is working on plans for a major European investment push to strengthen the island’s economy and infrastructure. The initiative would be paired with a broader European security strategy reflecting the growing strategic importance of the Arctic.
Von der Leyen said security around Greenland should be enhanced in cooperation with like-minded partners, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Norway and Iceland, as part of a wider effort to ensure stability in the region.
As EU leaders prepare to gather in Brussels, officials say the emergency summit will be a critical moment for Europe to demonstrate unity and resolve. With Trump showing no sign of backing away from his demands, many in Europe believe the dispute over Greenland could mark a turning point in the transatlantic relationship, forcing the EU to balance diplomacy with a firmer defense of its interests and principles.
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