Brussels, January 18, 2026, BNN Web Staff:
Amid rising tensions between the United States and its European allies over Greenland, President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola has firmly asserted that Greenland’s sovereignty and territorial integrity are non-negotiable.
Reacting to US President Donald Trump’s recent remarks and the announcement of new tariffs targeting European countries, Metsola said the European Union stands united with Denmark and the people of Greenland. She stressed that economic pressure and threats would not alter the region’s political status.
In a post on social media platform X, Metsola warned that imposing tariffs on NATO allies would undermine collective security in the Arctic. She added that such measures could strengthen adversarial forces rather than protect shared democratic values. Reiterating the EU’s position, she said Greenland is not for sale, and no amount of trade pressure can change that reality.
Trump has announced a 10 per cent tariff on imports from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland, set to take effect on February 1, 2026. He has further warned that the tariff could increase to 25 per cent by June if negotiations over Greenland do not progress.
Following these developments, the European Union has decided to temporarily halt the ratification of the EU-US trade agreement that was unveiled in July 2025. Vice-President of the European People’s Party Siegfried Mureșan confirmed the pause, stating that the changing geopolitical situation has made immediate ratification untenable.
The trade framework, involving all 27 EU member states, was designed to ease tariff barriers and strengthen transatlantic economic cooperation. However, Trump’s renewed tariff threats and statements linking national security concerns to Greenland have raised uncertainty over the future of the deal.
Trump has argued that Greenland’s strategic importance, particularly amid growing Chinese and Russian interest in the Arctic, justifies US involvement. He has also indicated that tariffs would remain in place until an agreement is reached.
Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron has strongly condemned the tariff threats, calling them unacceptable and pledging a coordinated European response. Macron reaffirmed France’s commitment to defending the sovereignty of Greenland and Ukraine, stating that Europe would not bow to intimidation or pressure.
