Emergency European summit to respond to Trump's threats regarding Greenland
European Council President António Costa announced on Sunday that he has called for an emergency meeting of EU leaders in the coming days. This crucial step aims to coordinate a unified and firm European response to the recent threats made by US President Donald Trump, who has threatened to impose punitive tariffs over the refusal to sell Greenland to the United States.
Costa wrote in an official statement on social media: “Given the importance of current developments, and with the aim of ensuring greater coordination among member states, I have decided to call for an emergency meeting of the European Council.” A senior EU official stated that Costa is seriously considering holding this summit in Brussels, Belgium, next Thursday, reflecting the seriousness of the European stance regarding the American escalation.
Background to American ambitions in Greenland
Washington's desire to acquire Greenland is not new. In 1946, US President Harry Truman offered Denmark $100 million in gold for the island, but the offer was rejected. This desire resurfaced loudly during Trump's first term in 2019, when the Danish prime minister described the idea as "ridiculous," leading to a temporary diplomatic row.
Greenland, a self-governing territory under the Danish crown, is of paramount strategic importance to the United States. Its vital location in the Arctic makes it a crucial vantage point for monitoring growing Russian and Chinese military activity in the region. Furthermore, the island possesses vast untapped natural resources, including rare earth minerals essential for modern technological and military industries.
NATO's future is at stake
In a related development, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen warned of the serious repercussions of this dispute, stating that the "world order" and the future of NATO are at stake. This warning comes amid concerns that Washington's use of tariffs against a close ally and founding member of NATO could erode trust across the Atlantic.
Observers believe that the upcoming European summit will not be limited to discussing the economic response, but will extend to discussing the concept of “European sovereignty” and the ability of the Union to protect the territories of its member states from external pressures, whether political or economic, at a time when the world is witnessing rapid geopolitical transformations.
