EU to hold emergency summit on Thursday over Trump's Greenland threats

Brussels, Jan 19 (IANS) Leaders of EU countries will hold an emergency summit here on Thursday to discuss US threats related to Greenland, European Commission spokesperson Olof Gill said on Monday.

The summit will assess possible retaliatory measures in response to threatened tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump on countries that oppose his plan to "acquire" Greenland.

Gill said the EU continues to engage "at all levels" with Washington over its new tariff threats and is taking "every possible step" to protect the bloc's economic interests. He added that the use of the anti-coercion instrument is not ruled out, Xinhua News Agency reported.

He stressed that the priority is engagement rather than escalation with the United States. However, "should the threatened tariffs be imposed, the European Union has tools at its disposal and is prepared to respond," he added.

European Union ambassadors met for an emergency session in Brussels on Sunday evening. The talks focused on Trump’s tariff threat and possible responses.

European officials said negotiations remain the preferred option. Still, one official and one diplomat said retaliation was being discussed, media reports said.

They said a 93 billion euro list of counter-tariffs could be allowed to take effect. The list was prepared last year. It targets US goods.

Trump said on Saturday that the United States “needs Greenland for national security.” He added that if no deal is reached, tariffs would follow.

In a social media post, Trump said the levies would begin at 10 per cent in February. They would rise to 25 per cent by June. The measures would target a group of European nations.

On NBC’s Meet the Press, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent defended the administration’s stance. “President Trump strongly believes that we cannot outsource our security,” he said.

Bessent called Greenland “essential to US national security.” He said US control would be “best for Greenland, best for Europe, and best for the United States.”

European leaders rejected that argument. Denmark and Greenland have said the territory is not for sale.

On ABC’s This Week, the dispute was described as coercive. European officials warned that pressure tactics risk long-term damage to trust.

On CBS’ Face the Nation, Senator Mark Warner said the approach was “attacking our closest allies.” He added that “both Russia and China” stood to benefit.

Republican Congressman Mike Turner also raised concerns. He said there was “no authority” for the United States to seize territory from a NATO ally.

Turner said the episode had already “caused tension among the alliance.” He warned that US power depends on strong partnerships.

On CNN’s State of the Union, former Vice President Mike Pence called Denmark “a very strong ally of the United States of America.”

He said the dispute “does threaten to fracture that strong relationship.” He added that the risk extended to all NATO allies.

--IANS

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