Europe faces a diplomatic reckoning as President Trump's Greenland ambitions sharpen tensions within the transatlantic alliance. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s measured approach was publicly rebuked by Trump, who also condemned Starmer’s unrelated decision regarding Diego Garcia island, revealing the volatility and unpredictability of the US president's stance.
European leaders, including Poland’s PM Donald Tusk and Belgium’s Bart De Wever, urge a firmer response rather than appeasement, warning that weakness invites further exploitation. California Governor Gavin Newsom called for Europe to “grow a backbone” at the World Economic Forum, underscoring frustration with diplomatic approach failures.
The European Council on Foreign Relations has identified strategic 'cards' Europe can play, including uniting Denmark and Greenland's positions, engaging US factions that oppose forced annexation, and threatening targeted economic sanctions on US companies exploiting Greenlandic resources if annexation proceeds.
European Parliament has frozen ratification of the US-EU trade deal and is preparing countermeasures, including tariffs and restrictions on US companies. The path forward will require Europe to balance economic risks with the imperative to deter US coercion effectively.
