EU Leaders Reaffirm Transatlantic Partnership After Trump Backs Down on Greenland and Tariff Threats

EU leaders reaffirmed the importance of maintaining strong transatlantic relations with the United States after an emergency summit in Brussels held over President Donald Trump’s threats to annex Greenland and impose tariffs. Although Trump later suspended the threats, EU officials stressed the need to implement the EU-US trade deal, strengthen Arctic security, and remain united and prepared to defend European interests against future pressure or unpredictability.

European Council President Antonio Costa has said that European Union leaders believe it is extremely important to protect and value the transatlantic partnership between Europe and the United States. He made these remarks after chairing an emergency summit in Brussels late on Thursday, which was convened to reassess relations with Washington following recent tensions triggered by statements from US President Donald Trump.
The emergency meeting was called after Trump threatened to annex Greenland, the semi-autonomous territory belonging to Denmark, and also warned that he might impose new tariffs on selected European Union member states. These developments raised serious concerns among EU leaders about the future of diplomatic, economic and security relations between Europe and the United States.
However, on the eve of the summit, while attending the World Economic Forum in Davos, President Trump appeared to soften his position. He announced that he was suspending the tariff threats and said he would not use military force to take control of the Arctic island of Greenland. This apparent change in tone eased immediate tensions but did not eliminate deeper concerns among European leaders.
Although the summit ended without any formal decisions, Costa said that the priority for the European Union must now be the full implementation of the EU-US trade agreement that was reached in July 2025. He reminded reporters that the United States remains the European Union’s largest trading partner and stressed that the main goal is to maintain stable and effective trade relations. At the same time, he warned that the EU would continue to protect its own interests and would defend its member states, citizens and companies against any form of pressure or coercion.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also spoke after the meeting and acknowledged that Europe had invested too little in the Arctic region and in Arctic security in the past. She said the European Commission plans to double financial support for Greenland in the next EU budget beginning in 2028. According to her, the Commission will soon present a comprehensive package of investments for Greenland, although she did not give details about what the projects might include.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz welcomed President Trump’s apparent reversal of his earlier plans. He expressed gratitude that Trump had stepped back from the idea of taking over Greenland and that he had decided not to impose additional tariffs starting February 1. Merz said that moving forward, EU countries would need to strengthen the resilience and stability of the European Union in order to face future challenges more effectively.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen once again called for a stronger and permanent NATO military presence in the Arctic region, including around Greenland. Her comments came in response to Trump’s earlier claims that US control of the territory was necessary to address security concerns. Frederiksen stressed that Denmark and Greenland regard sovereignty as non-negotiable, but she also said her country was open to discussing closer security cooperation with the United States. She explained that while Greenland’s status as a sovereign territory was not up for debate, Denmark was willing to work with the US to strengthen joint security efforts in the Arctic.
The United States already has long-standing military access rights in Greenland, dating back many decades. Trump has claimed that a new agreement would give the US “total access” and everything it wanted at no cost, although he has not provided details or explained how this would differ from existing arrangements. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte told Reuters that Western allies would increase their presence in the region under the proposed deal, but he did not specify how this would be carried out.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said that even though Trump had changed his position, European leaders still had much to discuss. She noted that many leaders felt relieved by the recent announcements but warned that unpredictability had become a serious concern in transatlantic relations. Kallas said the EU must prepare for different scenarios because sudden changes could happen at any time. She added that disagreements between allies such as Europe and the United States only benefit their adversaries, who gain from instability and division.
French President Emmanuel Macron also addressed the situation, reminding leaders that the European Union still has tools available to respond if necessary, including its anti-coercion trade mechanism. He said that when Europe acts together and uses the instruments at its disposal, it earns respect on the global stage. According to Macron, unity and firmness are essential for protecting Europe’s interests and maintaining balanced relations with powerful partners like the United States.