Trump’s Greenland Threats: The EU Must Defend Itself!
Published in Frankfurter Rundschau
(Germany) on 18 January 2026
by Andreas Schwarzkopf (link to
original)
After Trump’s tariff threats over Greenland, the time for flattery is over. The EU has more power than it realizes — so long as it stays united.
Following Donald Trump’s tariff threats against eight European countries, EU countries are left with no alternative but to respond firmly in the Greenland dispute. They shouldn’t sell themselves short despite their dependence on the U.S. Even the United States would stand to lose quite a bit economically in a feud with its most important trading partner.
In political terms, Europeans have not only the opposition U.S. Democrats on their side, but also a few Republicans usually loyal to Trump — and the majority of the U.S. population. Trump’s handling of the Greenland issue seems to have united the two opposing political camps for the first time, and the examples of China and Brazil show that Trump gives in to those who negotiate tenaciously and assertively. In any case, the time for flattery should be over.
Of course, EU countries will only be successful if they don’t let themselves be divided. They should be able to do that in order to defend Greenland’s freedom, democracy and rule of law. If that doesn’t work out, Trump — along with Russian autocrat Vladimir Putin and Chinese head of state Xi Jinping — will be celebrating.
The old continent’s negotiating strategy can quite reasonably still include offering to work with the Trump administration to ensure the security of the icy island — and thus of the Arctic. That would also show that, unlike Trump, they do not want to destroy the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. This will be less likely to convince the U.S. president than the remaining trans-Atlanticists across the ocean, people who want to reform a functioning defensive alliance, not abandon it.
At the same time, Germany and the other EU countries must continue preparing for a future with a reduced American presence in Europe. That has implications not only for defense policy but the economy as well. Europeans will have to move faster than they have so far to break into new markets, just as they did with South American countries under the Mercosur deal.*
From a defense policy perspective, EU countries are still a long way from delivering on their grand promises. Although they agreed to boost spending at the NATO summit last summer, efforts to collaborate on a Future Combat Air System fighter program and a battle tank are stalling.
*Editor's note: The Mercosur deal established one of the world's largest free trade zones between the EU and the Mercosur countries, which include Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil and Uruguay.
Following Donald Trump’s tariff threats against eight European countries, EU countries are left with no alternative but to respond firmly in the Greenland dispute. They shouldn’t sell themselves short despite their dependence on the U.S. Even the United States would stand to lose quite a bit economically in a feud with its most important trading partner.
In political terms, Europeans have not only the opposition U.S. Democrats on their side, but also a few Republicans usually loyal to Trump — and the majority of the U.S. population. Trump’s handling of the Greenland issue seems to have united the two opposing political camps for the first time, and the examples of China and Brazil show that Trump gives in to those who negotiate tenaciously and assertively. In any case, the time for flattery should be over.
Of course, EU countries will only be successful if they don’t let themselves be divided. They should be able to do that in order to defend Greenland’s freedom, democracy and rule of law. If that doesn’t work out, Trump — along with Russian autocrat Vladimir Putin and Chinese head of state Xi Jinping — will be celebrating.
The old continent’s negotiating strategy can quite reasonably still include offering to work with the Trump administration to ensure the security of the icy island — and thus of the Arctic. That would also show that, unlike Trump, they do not want to destroy the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. This will be less likely to convince the U.S. president than the remaining trans-Atlanticists across the ocean, people who want to reform a functioning defensive alliance, not abandon it.
At the same time, Germany and the other EU countries must continue preparing for a future with a reduced American presence in Europe. That has implications not only for defense policy but the economy as well. Europeans will have to move faster than they have so far to break into new markets, just as they did with South American countries under the Mercosur deal.*
From a defense policy perspective, EU countries are still a long way from delivering on their grand promises. Although they agreed to boost spending at the NATO summit last summer, efforts to collaborate on a Future Combat Air System fighter program and a battle tank are stalling.
*Editor's note: The Mercosur deal established one of the world's largest free trade zones between the EU and the Mercosur countries, which include Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil and Uruguay.
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