Saturday, January 24, 2026-European Union heads of state and government are meeting in Brussels for an extraordinary summit to coordinate their response to recent U.S. pressure over Greenland. The gathering comes after President Trump’s threats to impose tariffs on several NATO allies in a bid to advance U.S. interests in Greenland, a move that triggered sharp criticism from EU capitals and concerns about transatlantic relations.
Leaders are focused on defending principles of international law, territorial integrity, and national sovereignty, particularly in solidarity with Denmark and Greenland amid continuing diplomatic tensions.
Although Trump subsequently dropped the more aggressive U.S. tariff threats following negotiations with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, European officials say the episode exposed fractures in trust and revealed the need for a unified strategy. Discussions in Brussels are expected to emphasize preserving cooperation with the United States where possible, while also preparing for potential retaliation or countermeasures should Washington’s stance shift again.
The summit underscores a broader challenge for Europe: balancing a desire to maintain constructive transatlantic ties with the necessity of protecting European interests and asserting its own strategic autonomy. With tensions over Arctic security and trade relations still unresolved, European leaders are pushing for coordinated diplomatic and economic planning to manage future disputes with the U.S. and uphold alliance cohesion.
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