Trump’s Greenland bid might force EU to stop placating him and fight back

South China Morning PostEN 1 min read 100% complete by BloombergJanuary 18, 2026 at 03:03 AM

AI Summary

short article 1 min

President Trump's interest in Greenland and subsequent tariff threats against several European nations, including Denmark, for planned NATO exercises there, have strained US-EU relations. The proposed tariffs, a response to what the US perceives as insufficient military commitment, target eight European countries and threaten to escalate to 25% in June. This action has been widely criticized by European leaders like the Prime Ministers of the UK, France and Sweden, who view it as unacceptable and a form of blackmail. In response, some European lawmakers are calling for a halt to the US-EU trade truce agreed upon in July. EU national ambassadors are scheduled to meet to discuss potential counter-measures, highlighting the growing tension and uncertainty in transatlantic relations.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

France 40% United Kingdom 40% Sweden 40% Keir Starmer 50% North Atlantic Treaty Organization 50% Emmanuel Macron 50% Ulf Kristersson 50% Denmark 60% United States ×470% European Union ×380% Greenland ×280% Donald Trump ×6100%

Keywords

us-eu trade relations 90% trade tariffs 80% donald trump 80% greenland 70% european union 60% trade deal 60% international relations 60% diplomacy 50% political leverage 40%