In a surprising turn of events, the European Union has declared that its relations with the United States have “taken a big blow” following a turbulent week marked by President Donald Trump’s threats over Greenland. However, the EU has expressed optimism that pragmatism and a firm but non-escalatory approach have helped to defuse the tensions.
The EU foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, stated that ties with Washington were shaken, but Europe was “not willing to junk 80 years of good relations”. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen echoed this sentiment, emphasising the importance of EU unity and engagement with the US in a “firm but non-escalatory manner” to help ease the situation.
The dispute over Greenland, which Trump had expressed interest in purchasing, has been a significant point of contention. The US President claimed to have outlined a “framework” of a future agreement on the island, but when pressed for details, he avoided giving specific answers and simply repeated that it was “a great agreement for everyone”.
Greenlandic and Danish leaders, however, have insisted that the island’s sovereignty is non-negotiable. Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen voiced guarded relief at Trump’s scrapping of his tariff plans, but said he knew no concrete details of the agreement the US President had cited.
The tensions also spilled over into the NATO alliance, with Trump accusing European soldiers of avoiding the frontlines during the war in Afghanistan. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte confronted the US President on this claim, insisting that the alliance had been there for the US and had contributed troops to the Afghan conflict.
In a move seen as a pragmatic response, French President Emmanuel Macron said that European pressure had forced Trump to back down from his threats to take control of Greenland. “Europe can make itself be respected, and that’s a very good thing,” Macron told reporters.
The dispute has had a significant impact on the transatlantic relationship, with diplomats warning that EU leaders will rethink their relations with the US as the Greenland episode had badly shaken confidence in the relationship. Governments remain wary of another change of mind by Trump, who is increasingly seen as a bully that Europe will have to stand up to.
Despite the tensions, the European Union has indicated that it is likely to resume work on a trade deal with the United States now that the tariff threat has been withdrawn. The European Parliament’s president, Roberta Metsola, expressed relief that the “escalation is off the table for now”, allowing the discussions on the EU-US trade deal to continue.
As the dust settles, the focus now shifts to the next chapter in the relationship between the EU and the US, with both sides seeking to find a better way forward on the critical issue of security in the Arctic region.
