By Cristina Roca
President Trump's threat to impose tariffs to get his way over Greenland has rattled European leaders, who are attempting to walk a fine line between support for Denmark and appeasement of the U.S. Here's what they said after Trump's latest social-media broadsides:
-- French President Emmanuel Macron denounced Trump's use of tariffs to put pressure on allies as unacceptable, "even more so when they are used as leverage against territorial sovereignty." In a text to Trump published on social media by the president, Macron wrote, "I do not understand what you are doing on Greenland," and offered to set up a G-7 meeting in Paris on Thursday.
-- EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said Greenland's sovereignty was "non-negotiable" and called Trump's additional tariffs a mistake, saying Europe would work with the U.S. to secure the Arctic.
-- In a text to Trump also published by the president, NATO chief Mark Rutte praised the president for his efforts in Syria, Ukraine and Gaza, adding, "I am committed to finding a way forward on Greenland." Trump said he had agreed to a meeting over Greenland in Davos after a "very good" call with Rutte.
-- Finnish President Alexander Stubb also struck a more conciliatory tone, calling for tensions to be cooled.
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(END) Dow Jones Newswires
January 20, 2026 13:12 ET (18:12 GMT)
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