“The European Union will always be very firm in defending international law, wherever it may be, and of course, starting within the territory of the European Union’s member states,” Costa said, speaking after the signing of a landmark trade agreement between the EU and South American nations in Paraguay on Saturday.
“I am coordinating a joint response from the European Union’s member states on this issue,” Costa added.
Trump announced the new tariffs in a post on his Truth Social site Saturday, claiming the countries targeted had sent military personnel to Greenland in recent days “for purposes unknown.” A small deployment of NATO troops landed in Greenland’s capital, Nuuk, on Thursday as part of a reconnaissance and support mission.
“The United States of America is immediately open to negotiation with Denmark and/or any of these countries that have put so much at risk,” Trump said, insisting Washington would complete its acquisition of Greenland. The 10 percent tariff will be increased to 25 percent on June 1, and will be enforced “until such time as a Deal is reached for the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland,” Trump said.
“The president’s statement comes as a surprise,” Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said in a statement. “The purpose of the increased military presence in Greenland, to which the President refers, is to enhance security in the Arctic,” he said.
“We agree with the U.S. that we need to do more since the Arctic is no longer a low tension area. That’s exactly why we and NATO partners are stepping up in full transparency with our American allies,” Rasmussen said.