Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever expressed his intention to convey to the U.S. president that his actions are unacceptable. The meeting with Trump, scheduled for the next day, will have a different nature than originally anticipated. "We must inform him that he is crossing red lines. If we split, it will mark the end of an 80-year era of Atlanticism," De Wever said.
He also urged the U.S. to "stop in time" and noted that Trump must decide whether he wants to become a "monster." He emphasized that "no neighbor of America wants to become part of the U.S.; everyone wants to join the EU."
De Wever reminded of Europe's attempts to please the new president, including tariff concessions, to secure his support in the conflict in Ukraine. "The European Union finds itself in a difficult situation, dependent on the U.S., but now we are facing the crossing of many red lines, and we need to make decisions that reflect our sense of self-respect," he added.
Kaja Kallas, the head of European diplomacy, noted that the EU does not intend to start a conflict with the U.S. over Greenland but will defend itself. "Trump's statements have created a unique situation that we have never encountered before. Our response must be one of calm and unity. Greenland and Denmark are negotiating with America, and that is what responsible allies do," Kallas stated, adding that "no country has the right to seize the territory of another state."
Emmanuel Macron, the president of France, characterized the situation as a "shift towards a lawless world," where international law is ignored and the only law becomes force.
Ursula von der Leyen, the head of the European Commission, was more restrained in her comments. "The European Union is developing a large investment package for Greenland to support the local economy and infrastructure. We intend to work with Denmark and Greenland, as well as with the U.S. on security issues in the region," she emphasized.
Scott Bessent, the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, expressed confidence that Washington would be able to reach an agreement with European countries regarding Greenland. "I am confident that leaders will find a way to resolve the situation that will be beneficial for all parties," he noted, calling for a "deep breath" and de-escalation of tensions.
According to Politico, no Danish officials were present at the forum in Davos.
