Davos Erupts as Trump Escalates Greenland Dispute- DAVOS, Switzerland — A widening dispute over Greenland has pushed relations between the United States and Europe into one of their most volatile moments in years, as President Donald Trump doubled down on territorial ambitions and tariff threats, prompting sharp warnings from European leaders and unusually blunt criticism from U.S. allies and rivals alike.
Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the European Union shares Washington’s concerns about Arctic security, but warned that economic coercion against allies would provoke a firm, united response. If the Trump administration follows through on new tariffs linked to the Greenland dispute, she said, Europe’s reaction would be “unflinching.”
Von der Leyen cautioned that the confrontation risks sending the transatlantic relationship into a “downward spiral” that would benefit only common adversaries, at a time when global competition in the Arctic is intensifying.
The tension escalated after Trump announced plans to impose tariffs on eight countries that sent small military contingents to Greenland last week. The deployments were framed by European governments as routine and defensive, but Washington portrayed them as a challenge to U.S. interests. Trump has repeatedly argued that Greenland — a semi-autonomous Danish territory — is critical to American security and economic strategy.
In recent days, the Trump administration has openly discussed acquiring Greenland, and senior officials have declined to rule out military options, alarming European capitals and triggering urgent diplomatic consultations across the continent.
European leaders are now weighing possible countermeasures, including retaliatory tariffs and the potential first-ever use of the EU’s anti-coercion instrument, a powerful trade tool designed to respond to economic pressure from foreign governments. Officials say the fact that the instrument is under discussion underscores the seriousness of the crisis.
Trump further inflamed tensions early Tuesday with a series of aggressive social media posts, declaring there was “no going back” on his goal to control Greenland. One post shared an image from a previous Oval Office meeting with European leaders that appeared to show an edited map depicting Canada and Greenland covered in American stars and stripes, a move widely criticized by European diplomats as provocative and destabilizing.
The rhetoric drew condemnation even from within the United States’ political sphere. California Governor Gavin Newsom, speaking in Davos ahead of Trump’s anticipated forum address, accused the president of engaging in “reckless power politics” and urged European leaders not to yield to pressure. Newsom said traditional diplomacy cannot function when backed by threats of tariffs and territorial expansion, calling for Europe to respond with unity and resolve.
Behind the scenes, European officials worry the dispute could fracture NATO cohesion and weaken cooperation in the Arctic, where strategic competition with Russia and China is already intensifying. While many EU leaders acknowledge legitimate U.S. security concerns in the region, they argue that unilateral action and economic intimidation undermine trust among allies.
As Trump prepares to take the stage in Davos, global attention is focused on whether he will seek to ease tensions or further escalate a confrontation that has already rattled markets, strained alliances, and raised fears of a prolonged transatlantic standoff.
Greenland Crisis: Europe Signals Tough Response to U.S. Coercion | Maya
