German chancellor says EU unity prompted US shift on Greenland

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has framed a recent de-escalation in the Greenland dispute as a victory for European solidarity. Speaking in Brussels on Thursday ahead of an emergency EU summit, Merz credited coordinated European pressure with influencing U.S. policy, leading President Donald Trump to step back from his push to acquire the territory and to suspend related tariff threats.

Attributing Shift to European Determination

"It has become clear that unity and determination on the European side can indeed make a difference," Merz told reporters. He expressed gratitude that Trump "has refrained from his original plans to take over Greenland, and... from imposing additional tariffs." The chancellor stated this outcome was "the result of our joint efforts between Europe and the US" to navigate difficult times. He also thanked NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte for his mediating role in Davos, which preceded Trump's announcement of a new "framework" for the Arctic region.

Focus on European Defense and Arctic Security

Merz used the moment to underscore the need for greater European strategic responsibility. He acknowledged U.S. security concerns in the Arctic but stressed that "the European Union, the European part of NATO, must be able to defend itself." He noted this is a work in progress and requires closer focus on all parts of the European NATO area, "above all, the north." This aligns with Germany's upcoming diplomatic initiative, a North Sea Summit in Hamburg on Monday, which will discuss regional economic cooperation, defense, and maritime security.

A Broader Message on Competitiveness and Cooperation

Striking a moderately optimistic tone, Merz concluded that Europe is making step-by-step progress on critical issues of economic competitiveness and defense capability. "I am very pleased with how things are going at the moment," he added. His comments serve to present the Greenland episode not just as a resolved crisis, but as evidence that a united Europe can effectively engage with the U.S., protect its members' interests, and advance its own strategic autonomy within the transatlantic alliance.