DONALD Trump’s tariff threats over Greenland risk a “dangerous downward spiral”, Nato allies have warned in their latest bid to deter the US president from seizing the island.
Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the UK said Washington’s claims “undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral”.
Greenland locals in the capital, Nuuk, protesting against Trump’s claims, January 17Credit: AFP
Donald Trump has threatened European countries with higher tariffsCredit: Alamy
The eight countries face 10 per cent tariffs on exports to the US from February – which will rise to 25 per cent in June.
The allies also said they stood “in full solidarity with the Kingdom of Denmark and the people of Greenland”.
They said: “We stand ready to engage in a dialogue based on the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity that we stand firmly behind.”
The European nations highlighted that they were “committed to strengthening Arctic security as a shared transatlantic interest”.
Emphasising that recent Nato drills were not taking place specifically in preparation for a US invasion, the group said their latest exercise carried out in Greenland “poses no threat to anyone”.
“Tariff threats undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral,” the allies added.
Secretary general of the International Chamber of Commerce in the UK, Chris Southworth, branded the tariffs “extremely unhelpful and completely unnecessary”.
He also fumed that the threats were “straight out of the Trump playbook”.
Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen also pledged on Sunday: “Europe will not be blackmailed.”
In the face of the tariff threat, she said: “We want to co-operate, and it is not we who are seeking conflict.”
Italy’s prime minister also said that she had urged the Don to withdraw his threats.
Giorgia Meloni, often regarded as a Trump whisperer, said she called Trump’s threats of tariffs a “mistake”.
“The prediction of an increase in tariffs against those nations that have chosen to contribute to Greenland’s security is a mistake, and I don’t agree with it,” she said.
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Eze Chidiebere Paul
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