Confronted over Greenland, Europe is ditching its softly-softly approach to Trump

BBC News - WorldCenterEN 9 min read 100% complete January 20, 2026 at 02:04 AM

AI Summary

long article 9 min

Recent comments from Donald Trump regarding the potential U.S. acquisition of Greenland have triggered a shift in Europe's approach to the American president. Trump's continued pursuit of Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark, and his suggestion of punitive tariffs against European nations that don't support the acquisition, have been met with strong resistance. European leaders, particularly in Germany and France, have condemned the threats, with Germany vowing not to be blackmailed. This marks a departure from Europe's previously conciliatory stance towards Trump. European leaders are now considering a more assertive strategy, combining diplomacy with the threat of retaliation, to address what they perceive as Trump's use of tariffs as a geopolitical weapon. The EU hopes to address the situation at the Global Economic Forum in Switzerland.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Switzerland 30% Theodore Roosevelt 35% Lars Klingbeil 40% North Atlantic Treaty Organization 40% Roland Lescure 40% France ×250% Germany ×260% European Union ×370% United States ×470% Denmark ×275% Greenland ×685% Donald Trump ×690%

Keywords

greenland 100% donald trump 90% european union 80% tariffs 70% us foreign policy 60% geopolitical weapon 50% transatlantic relations 50% arctic security 40%