EU calls emergency summit after Trump's Greenland remarks
Photo: António Costa (Getty Images)
European Council President António Costa has announced an emergency meeting on transatlantic relations. It will take place on Thursday, January 22, according to The Guardian.
The main reason for the emergency meeting was US President Donald Trump's statements regarding Greenland.
Costa emphasizes the need for urgent coordination between EU countries and reaffirms his commitment to international law and the principle of territorial integrity.
The special meeting of the European Council is scheduled on Thursday, January 22.
Trump's statements on Greenland
At the end of 2025, Donald Trump said that control over Greenland was essential for US national security.
In early 2026, the US President reiterated this thesis, stressing that the island was allegedly surrounded by the Russian and Chinese fleets, and Denmark, in his words, was unable to provide adequate protection.
Trump later commented on the island's defense, saying it was limited to two dog sleds trying to counter Russian and Chinese destroyers and submarines.
Later, information emerged that the US could pay up to $700 billion to buy Greenland. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has already been tasked with preparing a proposal.
On Saturday, January 17, Trump announced that starting February 1, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Finland will pay a 10% tariff on all goods supplied to the US, and starting June 1, the rate will increase to 25%.
According to the US President, the tariffs will remain in effect until an agreement is reached on the complete and final purchase of Greenland.
Europe is preparing three plans to counter Trump's encroachment on the island, one of which assumes that the US leader's statements on Greenland are a strategic bluff to extract concessions from Copenhagen.
