EU must act, not just talk, against Trump's Greenland threats: Danish MEP

A Danish member of the European Parliament has issued a stark call for the European Union to move beyond verbal condemnations and prepare concrete countermeasures against persistent U.S. threats to acquire Greenland. Following President Donald Trump's explicit revival of the idea, MEP Per Clausen argues that the bloc’s economic and political tools must be deployed to defend a fundamental strategic and diplomatic red line.

Treating the Threat as Real

In an interview, Clausen of the European Parliament's Left group stressed that Trump's ambitions must be taken at face value. "He has shown that he is capable of military actions against a sovereign country and his threats against Greenland are very precise," Clausen stated. He characterized Trump's international conduct as resembling "a bully in the schoolyard," suggesting that the absence of forceful EU responses has only encouraged further escalation. This follows Trump's description of U.S. control over the island as "an absolute necessity" for national security, citing the presence of Russian and Chinese vessels.

Proposing Concrete Economic Consequences

Clausen criticized the EU's response to recent U.S. pressures as disproportionately weak, particularly regarding trade. He pointed to a recent tariff arrangement that he views as favoring Washington and called for a suspension of such cooperative economic processes. "We should say to the US, 'we can't make this work,'" he argued, proposing that the EU halt ratification processes in its parliamentary and council bodies until Washington unequivocally withdraws its threats. He emphasized the EU's significant economic leverage, stating it has the capacity to "cause a lot of damage to the US economy" if it chooses to wield its power.

Solidarity and Strategic Alliances

The lawmaker welcomed firm statements from the Danish government but emphasized that a united European front is essential. "It's necessary for Denmark to have friends," Clausen said, noting that a small nation cannot withstand such pressure alone. He endorsed the principle that any strategic decisions, including potential European military support for Greenland's defense, must be predicated on the explicit will of the Greenlandic people, who polls show overwhelmingly reject becoming part of the United States. This stance, he argued, would demonstrate collective European resolve without escalating toward conflict.