EU Leaders Ready to ‘Defend Ourselves’ Amid US Tariff Threats Over Greenland

Trump said the United States would impose increasing tariffs on eight European nations rejecting a U.S. purchase of Greenland starting Feb. 1.

Buildings in Nuuk, Greenland, on Jan. 14, 2026. Marko Djurica/Reuters

European Union leaders said after an emergency meeting on Jan. 18 that their nations are ready to defend themselves after U.S. President Donald Trump imposed new tariffs on Europe as pressure in his bid to take control of the North American island.

After the emergency talks, EU Council President Antonio Costa said that member states agree that tariffs “would undermine transatlantic relations and are incompatible with the EU-U.S. trade agreement.”