BRUSSELS, Belgium: European Union leaders on Saturday warned against US President Donald Trump’s threat to impose tariffs on European countries until he has achieved his purchase of Greenland.
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa, president of the European Council, issued the joint statement hours after Trump threatened multiple European nations with tariffs of up to 25 percent.
“Tariffs would undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral,” they wrote in a post on social media.
“Europe will remain united, coordinated, and committed to upholding its sovereignty,” they added.
The statement came days after Danish and Greenlandic officials held talks in Washington over Trump’s bid to acquire the territory, without reaching agreement.
“The EU stands in full solidarity with Denmark and the people of Greenland,” said the EU statement.
“Dialogue remains essential, and we are committed to building on the process begun already last week between the Kingdom of Denmark and the US.”
However, Denmarks foreign minister in a statement sent to AFP said that US President Donald Trump’s threat to impose tariffs on European nations that do not let him acquire Greenland “come as a surprise”,.
“The purpose of the increased military presence in Greenland, to which the president refers, is precisely to enhance security in the Arctic,” said Lars Lokke Rasmussen.
Comments
Comments are closed for this article.