Brussels: Europe and the Arabs

A European statement issued in Brussels on behalf of European Council President António Costa said, "My consultations with member states regarding the recent tensions over Greenland have reaffirmed our unwavering commitment to:
Unity on the principles of international law, territorial integrity, and national sovereignty;
Unity in support of and solidarity with Denmark and Greenland;
Recognition of the shared transatlantic interest in peace and security in the Arctic, particularly through action within NATO;
The shared assessment that tariffs would undermine transatlantic relations and are incompatible with the EU-US trade agreement;
Readiness to defend ourselves against any form of coercion;
Readiness to continue constructive dialogue with the United States on all issues of common interest. Given the importance of recent developments, and in order to strengthen coordination, I have decided to convene an extraordinary meeting of the European Council in the coming days." This followed a joint statement from the Presidency of the Council and the Presidency of the European Commission, which stated that territorial integrity and sovereignty are fundamental principles of international law and are essential for Europe and the international community as a whole. The statement was issued by Council President António Costa. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated, “We have repeatedly emphasized our shared transatlantic interest in peace and security in the Arctic, including through NATO. The pre-coordinated Danish exercise, conducted with allies, is a response to the need to strengthen Arctic security and poses no threat to anyone. The EU expresses its full solidarity with Denmark and the people of Greenland. Dialogue remains essential, and we are committed to building on the process that began last week between the Kingdom of Denmark and the United States. Imposing tariffs would undermine transatlantic relations and threaten a serious deterioration. Europe will remain united, coordinated, and committed to preserving its sovereignty.” In a further escalation, US President Donald Trump announced his intention to impose additional tariffs on several European countries and the United Kingdom, a move he directly linked to the Greenland issue. This prompted swift European reactions expressing widespread rejection and growing concern about the repercussions of the decision. According to the Brussels-based news network Euronews, Trump announced his decision via his Truth Social platform. As stated in his post, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Finland will be subject to a 10% tariff on all products exported to the United States, effective February 1st.

By June 1st, these tariffs will increase to 25% and will remain "due and payable until an agreement is reached to purchase Greenland in its entirety." The US president justified this move by accusing the countries involved of "playing a very dangerous game" and engaging in "an unacceptable and unsustainable level of risk."

He asserted that the current situation is "likely to become dangerous" unless "strong" and swift action is taken to protect global peace and security. At the same time, Trump affirmed that he is "open to negotiations immediately with Denmark and/or any of these countries." This announcement comes just months after the European Union and the United States reached an agreement on import tariffs in July, bringing back to the forefront fears of renewed trade disputes between the two sides.