People protest against Trump's policy towards Greenland in front of the US consulate in Nuuk, Greenland, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)2026-01-18T10:03:05Z BERLIN (AP) The eight European countries targeted by U.S. President Donald Trump for a 10% tariff for opposing American control of Greenland blasted the move Sunday, warning that his threats undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral.The joint statement by some of Americas closest allies signaled a possible turning point in the recent tensions over sovereignty and security nearly 24 hours after Trumps threat.It was also the most forceful rebuke of Trump from the European allies since he returned to the White House almost a year ago. In recent months, Europeans have mostly opted for diplomacy and flattery around him, even when seeking an end to the war in Ukraine. Sundays statement, as well as some European countries sending troops to Greenland for a Danish military training exercise, appeared to be a step away from that strategy.The unusually strong joint statement from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland said troops sent to Greenland for operation Arctic Endurance pose no threat to anyone. People protest against Trumps policy towards Greenland in front of the US consulate in Nuuk, Greenland, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka) People protest against Trumps policy towards Greenland in front of the US consulate in Nuuk, Greenland, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Standing in solidarity with Denmark and Greenland Trumps Saturday announcement sets up a potentially dangerous test of U.S. partnerships in Europe. He appeared to indicate that he was using the tariffs as leverage to force talks over the status of Greenland, a semiautonomous territory of NATO ally Denmark that he regards as critical to U.S. national security. We stand in full solidarity with the Kingdom of Denmark and the people of Greenland, the group said. Building on the process begun last week, we stand ready to engage in a dialogue based on the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity that we stand firmly behind. Tariff threats undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral. There are immediate questions about how the White House could try to implement the tariffs because the European Union is a single economic zone in terms of trading. It was unclear, too, how Trump could act under U.S. law, though he could cite emergency economic powers that are currently subject to a U.S. Supreme Court challenge.EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said China and Russia will benefit from divisions between the U.S. and Europe. She added in a post on social media: If Greenlands security is at risk, we can address this inside NATO. Tariffs risk making Europe and the United States poorer and undermine our shared prosperity.Europe has been trying to keep Trump on its side to ensure American support for Ukraine, including Washington sharing intelligence with Kyiv and its involvement in security guarantees if a peace agreement is reached with Russia.French President Emmanuel Macron wrote on social media that no intimidation or threats will influence us, whether in Ukraine, Greenland or anywhere else in the world when we are faced with such situations. He added that tariff threats are unacceptable and have no place in this context.Trumps move was also panned domestically. A boy holds a crossed out map of Greenland topped by a hairpiece symbolizing U.S. President Donald Trump, during a protest against Trump's policy towards Greenland in front of the US consulate in Nuuk, Greenland, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka) A boy holds a crossed out map of Greenland topped by a hairpiece symbolizing U.S. President Donald Trump, during a protest against Trump's policy towards Greenland in front of the US consulate in Nuuk, Greenland, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More A crowd walks to the US consulate to protest against Trump's policy towards Greenland in Nuuk, Greenland, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka) A crowd walks to the US consulate to protest against Trump's policy towards Greenland in Nuuk, Greenland, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly, a former U.S. Navy pilot and Arizona Democrat, said Trumps threatened tariffs on U.S. allies would make Americans pay more to try to get territory we dont need. Troops from European countries are arriving in Greenland to defend the territory from us. Let that sink in, Kelly wrote on social media. The damage this President is doing to our reputation and our relationships is growing, making us less safe. If something doesnt change we will be on our own with adversaries and enemies in every direction.Populist allies of Trump criticize the tariff threatSix of the countries targeted are part of the 27-member EU, which operates as a single economic zone in terms of trading. It was not immediately clear if Trumps tariffs would impact the entire bloc. EU envoys scheduled emergency talks Sunday evening to determine a potential response.The tariff announcement also drew blowback from Trumps populist allies in Europe.Italys right-wing premier, Giorgia Meloni, considered one of Trumps closest allies on the continent, said she had spoken to him about the tariffs, which she described as a mistake. The deployment to Greenland of small numbers of troops by some European countries was misunderstood by Washington, Meloni said, adding it was not a move against the U.S. but aimed to provide security against other actors that she didnt identify.Jordan Bardella, president of Marine Le Pens far-right National Rally party in France and a European Parliament lawmaker, posted that the EU should suspend last years tariff deal with the U.S., describing Trumps threats as commercial blackmail.Trump also achieved the rare feat of uniting Britains main political parties including the hard-right Reform UK party all of whom criticized the tariff threat.We dont always agree with the U.S. government and in this case we certainly dont. These tariffs will hurt us, said Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, a longtime champion and ally of Trump. His social media post stopped short of criticizing Trumps designs on Greenland.Meanwhile, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who leads the center-left Labour Party, said the tariffs announcement was completely wrong and his government would be pursuing this directly with the U.S. administration.The foreign ministers of Denmark and Norway are also expected to address the crisis Sunday in Oslo during a news conference.__Lawless is in London and Burrows is in Nuuk, Greenland. John Leicester in Paris, Lorne Cook in Brussels, Barry Hatton in Lisbon, Portugal, Aamer Madhani in Washington and Josh Boak in West Palm Beach, Florida, contributed. STEFANIE DAZIO Dazio covers Northern Europe from Berlin for The Associated Press. She previously covered crime and criminal justice from Los Angeles. JILL LAWLESS Lawless is an Associated Press reporter covering U.K. politics and more. She is based in London. twitter mailto EMMA BURROWS Burrows covers security, defense and intelligence for The Associated Press in Europe. She is based in London. twitter RSShttps://feedx.net https://feedx.site