European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday reaffirmed the European Union’s commitment to unity and diplomacy while warning that escalating tensions over Greenland could strain long-standing transatlantic ties. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, she cautioned that confrontational rhetoric risks pushing relations between the United States and the EU into a counterproductive downward spiral.
Von der Leyen stressed that any EU response to threats concerning the autonomous Danish territory would be “unflinching, united and proportional,” underscoring Europe’s resolve to safeguard strategic stability while avoiding unnecessary escalation. She noted that internal divisions among allies would only benefit shared adversaries and weaken collective security.
Her remarks followed comments by US President Donald Trump, who reiterated his interest in Greenland and suggested European leaders were unlikely to strongly oppose his position. Trump is scheduled to address the Davos forum on Wednesday.
Recent threats of new US tariffs—reportedly targeting the UK and several European nations—have prompted discussions within Europe on possible countermeasures. However, Washington has cautioned that retaliatory steps would be unwise.
Emphasising cooperation over confrontation, von der Leyen described the proposed tariffs as a misstep between long-standing allies. “In politics, as in business, a deal is a deal,” she said, adding that mutual trust and respect must remain the foundation of transatlantic relations.
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)
