The threats of Donald Trump to annex Greenland by force and imposing new tariffs on allies who intervene have brought relations between the EU and the United States to intensive care, on the verge of total breakdown.
Although the tenant of the White House has taken a step back, the aggressiveness of the episode leaves deep scars on its European partners due to the qualitative leap it represents. This is no longer a trade dispute like last year, but rather a direct attack against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of an ally like Denmark.
At the emergency summit concluded early Friday morning in Brussels, the heads of state and government of the EU have chosen to contain the crisis and avoid a definitive divorce with Trump. At the same time, they made it clear that they will remain vigilant and that they are ready to immediately activate your entire defensive arsenal if the American president returns to the fray.
“We believe that relationships between partners and allies They must be managed in a cordial and respectful manner“, claimed the president of the European Council, the Portuguese socialist António Costa, at the end of the meeting.
“Looking ahead, we remain willing to maintain a constructive dialogue with the US on all matters of common interest, including the creation of conditions for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine,” says Costa.
“At the same time, the European Union will continue to defend its interests and protect itself, its Member States, its citizens and its companies. against any form of coercion. “He has the power and the tools to do it, and he will do it when necessary,” he insisted.
The President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, has led the side of those most critical of Trump. “We have to face reality. And the reality is that the US Government is not respecting international law and is straining the transatlantic relationship between the US and the EU like never before“, he pointed out.
Ursula von der Leyen and António Costa, during the press conference after the Brussels summit
“Faced with this, I think there should be no doubt: Europe must strengthen itself internally and also open up to other parts of the world,” defends Sánchez, who has once again put on the table the idea of integration at various speeds so that the most reticent countries do not hold back the rest.
“Transatlantic relations have undoubtedly received a severe blow this week“, recognized the head of community diplomacy, Kaja Kallawho during her time as Prime Minister of Estonia was one of Washington’s closest allies in the EU.
“Although everyone is relieved with the recent announcements, in this last year we have seen that we have to be prepared for a lot of unpredictability. So we still need to discuss our plans for different scenarios, because one day it’s one thing and the next day everything could change“, affirms Kallas.
“When Europe is united, strong and reacts quickly, things return to order and calm“says Macron, who has attributed Trump’s retreat to the firmness exhibited by the Europeans in defense of Greenland.
French President Emmanuel Macron upon arrival at the emergency summit in Brussels
“When we are threatened, or when one of us is subjected to pressure or coercion, it is normal that there is solidarity and that, using our own instruments, we make ourselves respected. And that is what has happened,” highlighted the French president.
Instead of resorting to his usual strategy of appeasement and flattery, This time the EU has stood up to Trump’s threats and he made it clear that he would respond with all the instruments at his disposal, including his “commercial bazooka”: the Instrument against Economic Coercion, which allows restrictions to be imposed on large American digital platforms.
“We remain extremely vigilant and prepared to use our instruments if we are threatened again,” Macron insisted.
The main protagonist of the emergency summit in Brussels has been the Danish Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksenwhich has insisted that it is willing to continue talking with Trump, but has made it clear that its “red line” is that the “sovereignty” of Denmark and Greenland be respected.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen upon arrival at the Brussels summit
“We have to work together respectfully, without threatening each other“said Frederiksen, who thanked the rest of the European leaders for their support in the battle he fought (and so far won) against the US president.
“When Europe is not divided, when we are united and we are clear and strong in our will to make ourselves respected, that works,” says the Prime Minister of Denmark.
It is the same message that the German chancellor has repeated, Friedrich Merzalthough he has been much more conciliatory with Trump. “It has been shown that unity and determination on the part of Europe can have real effects,” he said.
For the Polish Prime Minister, Donald Tuskthe European Union must do “everything possible” to protect transatlantic relations and NATO, although it admits that it is a difficult task with the current occupant of the White House.
Pedro Sánchez and Giorgia Meloni talk during the emergency summit in Brussels
“American leadership, we respect and accept it. But what we need today in our politics is trust and respect between all the partners here present, no domination and certainly no coercion. That doesn’t work in our world,” Tusk said.
What lessons should the European Union draw from the crisis experienced with Trump this week? “Our work for independence is more important than ever,” responds the president of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.