European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has criticized Donald Trump’s threat to impose tariffs on eight European countries that opposed his efforts to purchase Greenland.
“Security in the Arctic can only be achieved together, and this is why the proposed additional tariffs are a mistake,” the EU Commission President said at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
She suggested that such measures would undermine a previous tariff agreement, stating:
“When friends shake hands, it should mean something.”
Von der Leyen also outlined the European Commission’s strategy for addressing the issue:
- Full solidarity with Greenland and Denmark, in support of the territory’s sovereignty;
- A significant increase in European investment in Greenland to support infrastructure development and local businesses;
- Joint investments in Arctic security with the United States and other partners, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Norway, and Iceland;
- The development of a new EU security strategy, including an enhanced Arctic security framework.
