Newshour European countries harden response to Trump's Greenland threats
Jan 19, 2026
Karin Carlsbru, a Swedish MEP and Vice-chair of the European Parliament's Committee on International Trade, discusses the EU's potential 'trade bazooka' response to President Trump's Greenland threats. She advocates for unified EU action against US tariffs, emphasizing international law and sovereignty. Meanwhile, Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General, critiques the erosion of international law and advocates for renewed multilateralism to tackle global crises, highlighting the challenges of unilateralism in today’s geopolitical landscape.
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EU Shifts To Coordinated Economic Response
- European leaders are shifting from placation to coordinated resistance over US threats regarding Greenland.
- The EU is preparing economic countermeasures including tariffs and procurement bans to deter coercion.
Use The Trade 'Bazooka' Deliberately
- Use the EU's 'trade bazooka' toolkit to retaliate against coercive external economic pressure.
- Target measures can include counter-tariffs, exclusion from procurement and limits on investments.
EU Unity Is Fragile Under Pressure
- EU unity is fragile because unanimous action requires broad support among diverse member states.
- Differences—like Viktor Orban's positions—could limit the EU's ability to deploy collective measures.