European leaders have vehemently condemned President Donald Trump's aggressive pursuit of Greenland, labeling his efforts as "new colonialism" and "new imperialism," and warning that the continent faces a critical crossroads. Trump has declared there is "no going back" on his goal of controlling the vast Arctic island, which is an autonomous part of Denmark, stating unequivocally, "Now it is time, and it will be done!!!"

French President Emmanuel Macron, addressing the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, explicitly stated his preference for "respect to bullies" and "the rule of law to brutality." He criticized the "useless aggressivity" of Trump’s pledge to levy tariffs on countries that opposed a US takeover of Greenland, arguing that the US was seeking to "weaken and subordinate Europe" by demanding "maximum concessions" and imposing "fundamentally unacceptable" tariffs as leverage against territorial sovereignty. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen echoed these concerns, describing Trump's threat to impose a 10% tariff on imports from several European nations as "a mistake." She questioned Trump's trustworthiness, remarking that "in politics, as in business, a deal is a deal. When friends shake hands, it must mean something," and warned against plunging relations into a "downward spiral" while affirming the EU’s response, if necessary, would be "unflinching, united and proportional."

Belgium’s Prime Minister Bart De Wever starkly stated that Europe was "at a crossroads" and "so many red lines are being crossed" by Trump, asserting the continent must stand up for itself or "lose its dignity." De Wever provocatively suggested that "A Nato country is threatening another Nato country with military invasion," casting doubt on the future of Atlanticism, the alliance that has underpinned Western security for decades.

President Trump's relentless stance on Greenland was reinforced by his public statements and social media activity. When pressed by a reporter on how far he would go to acquire Greenland, he ominously replied, "You’ll find out." He refused to comment on the use of military force when directly asked, and consistently reiterated that Greenland is "imperative for National and World Security." On social media, Trump posted an AI-generated image of himself and US officials planting a US flag on Greenland, alongside a map depicting Greenland and Canada as US territory. He also leaked private text messages from French President Macron and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, using them to taunt critics of his plan and further fuel diplomatic tensions. In one instance, he even appeared to mistakenly refer to Greenland as Iceland while discussing tariffs. Trump reportedly threatened a 200% tariff on French wine and champagne if Macron did not accept an invitation to join his "Board of Peace," a group he suggested might eventually replace the United Nations, which he criticized for its lack of effectiveness.

The spiraling row has plunged EU-US trade relations into fresh chaos and risks the unravelling of the NATO transatlantic alliance. Senior MEPs on the European parliament’s international trade committee were expected to announce the formal suspension of ratification for the EU-US trade deal sealed in July. The EU is actively mulling retaliatory measures, which could include a package of tariffs on €93bn (£80bn) of US imports or the unprecedented use of its "anti-coercion instrument" (ACI), designed to limit US access to public tenders, investments, banking activities, and trade in services. Additionally, the Trump administration is reportedly set to scale back its participation in approximately 200 NATO advisory groups, signaling a diminishing American involvement in key alliance training facilities.

Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen, while deeming military force "unlikely," conceded it "could be" a possibility, warning of international consequences due to Greenland's NATO membership. Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen stated her country had "never sought conflict" but that "the worst may still be ahead of us." Despite the US already having a military base on the island and a bilateral agreement with Denmark allowing for a massive expansion of its presence, Trump reiterated "national security" as his rationale for acquisition. In response to these developments, the EU is working on a package for Arctic security based on Greenlandic and Danish sovereignty, involving a significant investment surge in Greenland and cooperation with the US in the region. Danish troops have also been deployed to Greenland for multinational military exercises, and European leaders are considering a more permanent military presence in the high north to bolster Arctic security.

Amidst these growing tensions, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent urged partners to "take a deep breath" and let the situation "play out," dismissing European "hysteria" and expressing confidence in a peaceful resolution. Meanwhile, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, speaking in Davos, lamented the fading "rules-based order" and called for "middle powers" to collaborate in building a better world order, asserting "the end of a pleasant fiction and the dawn of a harsh reality of geopolitics" where great powers are unconstrained. Even the UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, known for his cautious approach, deemed US tariffs "the wrong thing to do," while his government proceeded with plans to cede the Chagos islands to Mauritius, an action Trump criticized as "an act of great stupidity." Trump also notably suggested that the Panama Canal was "sort of" still on the table for acquisition and that he believed Greenlanders would be "thrilled" to be part of the US, despite having no direct communication with them.