While the White House threatens new tariffs, Brussels gets irritated. But the crux of geopolitical competition in the Arctic remains unavoidable
The Greenland question continues to hold sway. “Look, we have to have it,” declared Donald Trump, speaking of the largest island in the world. “I am unable to protect her,” he added, referring to the Danes. Furthermore, the American president has repeatedly claimed that he wants to acquire control of Greenland precisely to stem the maneuvers of China and Russia in the Arctic region. And he also raised the possibility of hitting European countries that stand in the way of reaching an agreement for the acquisition of the island with a 100% duty. “I don’t think they will put up too much resistance,” Trump underlined, speaking of the Europeans.
“Greenland is fundamental to national and global security. There is no going back: on this, everyone agrees! The United States of America is by far the most powerful country in the world. A large part of the reason is the reconstruction of our military during my first term, reconstruction which continues at an even faster pace”, the American president also declared on Truth, before adding: “We are the only power that can guarantee peace throughout the world: and it is done, quite simply, through force!”
For his part, the US Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, urged European countries not to react to the tariffs threatened by the White House on the Greenland dossier. “What I urge everyone here to do is sit back, take a deep breath and let things develop. The worst thing a country can do is lead an escalation against the United States,” he said, speaking in Davos.
“Security in the Arctic can only be achieved together. This is why the proposed additional tariffs are a mistake, especially between long-standing allies”, declared, on the other hand, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. “No country has the right to take over the territory of another. Not in Ukraine, not in Greenland, not in any other part of the world”, said the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, while Emmanuel Macron urged Brussels to use the anti-coercive tool, speaking of “new colonialism”.
While waiting for further developments, it should be remembered that it was the Biden administration, in December 2024, that raised the alarm about the increase in Sino-Russian cooperation in the Arctic. The problem, therefore, exists. And certainly not from today. The point is that, in recent years, it is not as if Europeans have paid who knows what attention to the geopolitical competition in the Arctic region and, specifically, to the strategic nature of Greenland. Among other things, even with respect to Trump’s claims on the island, EU leaders have so far shown a more superficial solidarity than anything else. Political for example, he underlined the softer approach, shown by Friedrich Merz, compared to the hard line promoted by Macron.
