European Union warns Trump after he threatened tariffs over Greenland

(Patria) - European Union leaders warned on Saturday of a "dangerous downward spiral" over US President Donald Trump's promises to impose escalating tariffs on European allies while the United States is not allowed to buy Greenland.

"Tariffs would undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral. Europe will remain united, coordinated and committed to maintaining its sovereignty," said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa in posts on the social network X.

The bloc's top diplomat Kaja Kallas said tariffs would harm prosperity on both sides of the Atlantic, while the EU would be distracted from its "key task" of ending Russia's war in Ukraine.

"China and Russia are certainly having a field day. They are the ones who benefit from divisions among allies," Kallas said on X.

"Tariffs risk making Europe and the United States poorer and undermine our common prosperity. If Greenland's security is threatened, we can address it within NATO." Ambassadors from the 27 European Union countries will meet today for an emergency meeting to discuss their response to Trump's tariff threat.