Macron vows European unity against US tariff threats over Greenland

French President Emmanuel Macron has issued a firm rebuke of new US tariff threats explicitly linked to the issue of Greenland, vowing that Europe will respond with unity and coordination. In a statement on social media platform X, Macron positioned the dispute as a matter of fundamental European sovereignty and principle.

A Firm Rejection of Coercion

Macron stated unequivocally that external pressure would not alter European stances. "No intimidation or threat will influence us—neither in Ukraine, nor in Greenland, nor anywhere else in the world," he wrote. He connected France's recent participation in a military exercise in Greenland with Denmark to a broader commitment to security in the Arctic and Europe's periphery, a decision he said France "fully assumes."

Pledging a Collective European Response

The French president explicitly called the tariff threats "unacceptable" and stated they have "no place in this context." He announced a diplomatic offensive, stating, "Europeans will respond in a united and coordinated manner should they be confirmed. We will ensure that European sovereignty is upheld. It is in this spirit that I will engage with our European partners." This signals an intent to forge a common EU position against what is perceived as economic coercion.

The Triggering US Announcement

The French response follows US President Donald Trump's announcement on Saturday that tariffs would be imposed on goods from eight European countries: Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, Britain, the Netherlands, and Finland. The duties are set to start at 10% on February 1 and rise to 25% by June 1. Trump stated these measures would remain until a deal is finalized for the "complete and total purchase of Greenland," a longstanding objective he frames as a US national security imperative to counter Russian and Chinese ambitions.