The European Union has strongly condemned US President Donald Trump’s plan to impose tariffs on goods from Greenland, a territory that is politically linked to Denmark. In a sharp rebuke delivered at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen questioned the reliability of the American leader, declaring that “a deal is a deal” and must be upheld.
The proposed tariffs, which Trump has framed as retaliation for Denmark’s refusal to sell Greenland to the United States, have sparked outrage in Europe and raised concerns about the future of the transatlantic alliance. Von der Leyen, who leads the EU’s executive arm, minced no words in her criticism of the American president’s actions.
“When you make a deal, you have to stick to it,” she told reporters on the sidelines of the Davos summit. “This is true for big countries and small countries, for neighbours and far-away partners. A deal is a deal.”
The tariffs, which would target a range of Greenlandic exports including seafood and minerals, are seen by many as a punitive measure aimed at Denmark, a close US ally, for its unwillingness to entertain Trump’s reported offer to purchase the autonomous territory last year. The proposed move has drawn widespread condemnation, with critics arguing that it undermines the rules-based international order and threatens to further strain relations between Europe and the United States.
Greenland, the world’s largest island, has become a geopolitical flashpoint in recent years due to its strategic location and vast natural resources, which are becoming increasingly accessible as the Arctic ice cap recedes due to climate change. Trump’s interest in acquiring the territory, which was summarily rejected by the Danish government, has only served to heighten tensions and uncertainty in the region.
Von der Leyen’s rebuke at Davos reflects the growing unease within the EU over the Trump administration’s apparent disregard for established diplomatic norms and multilateral agreements. The European leader’s insistence that “a deal is a deal” underscores the bloc’s commitment to upholding the rules-based international system, even in the face of unilateral actions by its transatlantic partner.
As the world’s economic and political elite gather in Davos, the dispute over Greenland tariffs serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of the transatlantic relationship and the challenges facing the global order in an era of rising nationalism and geopolitical competition.
