European leaders on Sunday strongly criticised United States President Donald Trump’s threat to impose tariffs on several countries because of their opposition to his desire to acquire Greenland.

Several European nations, including Denmark which holds sovereignty over Greenland as an autonomous territory, declared that they “stand united” against Trump’s demand.

“Tariff threats undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral,” Britain, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden warned in a joint statement.

The European Union has called an extraordinary meeting of its ambassadors in Brussels on Sunday. This follows the recent deal reached in July under which most EU exports face a 15-per cent US levy.

France’s President Emmanuel Macron will push the EU to activate a never-before-used “anti-coercion instrument” against the United States if Trump follows through on his tariff threat, according to Macron’s aides.

This EU mechanism, often called the bloc’s trade “bazooka,” enables restrictions on imports of goods and services into the European market of 27 countries and 450 million people.

Trump has repeatedly voiced his wish to bring Greenland under United States control since beginning his second term in the White House. His language on the issue has grown more forceful following the recent US military operation in Venezuela aimed at capturing President Nicolas Maduro.

Trump and his administration have justified the pursuit of Greenland on grounds of American “national security.”

They have also contended that Denmark, despite being a NATO ally, lacks the capability to defend Greenland against potential actions by Russia or China.

In response, Denmark and several European NATO partners recently deployed small contingents of military personnel to Greenland for an exercise. The United States received an invitation to participate in the activity.

Some German soldiers were observed boarding a flight on Sunday to depart Greenland after finishing a reconnaissance mission.

On Saturday, thousands of demonstrators in both Greenland and Denmark took to the streets to reject any transfer of the Arctic island to American authority.

“Make America Go Away” appeared on caps worn by many protesters, parodying President Trump’s famous “Make America Great Again” slogan.

In reaction, Trump announced plans to impose 10-percent tariffs on goods entering the United States from Britain, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Finland starting February 1.

He stated that the tariffs would increase to 25 per cent from June 1 “until such time as a Deal is reached for the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland,” as posted on his social media platform, Truth Social.

Even leaders considered close to Trump within Europe expressed disapproval of the tariff threat.

Italy’s far-right Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, described the threatened tariffs as a “mistake.”

“I believe that imposing new sanctions today would be a mistake,” she told journalists during a visit to Seoul, adding that “I spoke to Donald Trump a few hours ago and told him what I think.”

Dutch Foreign Minister David van Weel labelled Trump’s threat an “inexplicable” form of “blackmail.”

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer intends to speak directly with Trump “at the earliest opportunity,” according to UK culture minister Lisa Nandy who spoke to the BBC. She described the tariff threat as “wrong.”

“We believe it’s deeply unhelpful, and we believe it’s counterproductive, and the prime minister has not shied away from making that clear,” she said.

France’s Agricultural Minister Annie Genevard cautioned that the tariffs would also damage the United States.

“In this escalation of tariffs, (Trump) has a lot to lose as well, as do his own farmers and industrialists,” she told broadcasters Europe 1 and CNews.

Norway, included in the tariff threat but not a member of the European Union, indicated it is not presently considering retaliatory measures against American goods.

“I think one needs to stop and think so that a trade war can be averted that would lead to a downward spiral. Nobody would win,” Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store told NRK television.

In response to the mounting pressure concerning Greenland, Denmark’s Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen announced on Sunday that he will travel to fellow NATO members Norway, Britain, and Sweden in the coming days. The purpose of the visits is to discuss the alliance’s Arctic security policy.