European leaders express relief but caution after Trump backs down on Greenland, as NATO summit focuses on future of strained transatlantic ties.
BRUSSELS: European leaders expressed collective relief but maintained vigilance on Thursday after US President Donald Trump climbed down over his threats regarding Greenland.
The emergency NATO summit in Brussels proceeded, with its focus shifting to managing the unpredictable US leader and the perilous state of transatlantic relations.
French President Emmanuel Macron stated the situation now seemed “much more acceptable, even if we remain vigilant”.
Trump backed down on Wednesday from threats to seize Greenland by force and impose tariffs on European allies, citing a new “framework” deal.
NATO chief Mark Rutte, who negotiated with Trump in Davos, said there was “still a lot of work to be done” on the agreement.
Details remain scarce, but a source said the US and Denmark would renegotiate a 1951 defence pact concerning the autonomous Arctic territory.
Trump claimed the accord would give Washington “everything we wanted,” but there was no indication Greenland would become part of the United States.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen firmly stated that discussions over Denmark’s sovereignty were “off the table”.
“We are open to discussing the 1951 defence agreement with the United States, but it has to be in the framework of us as a sovereign state,” she told reporters.
Macron suggested the EU’s readiness to unleash its trade arsenal helped persuade Trump to back down.
“We remain extremely vigilant and ready to use the instruments at our disposal if we were to face threats again,” he said.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz welcomed the retreat but warned of a shaken international order.
“We have entered a time of great power politics,” Merz said in Davos.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk emphasised the need for “trust and respect among all partners, not domination”.
The summit underscored Europe’s ongoing struggle to define its relationship with a hostile Washington while ramping up its own defence capabilities.
Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said he was unaware of the deal’s details but desired continued “peaceful dialogue”.
Frederiksen also noted NATO backing for a “permanent presence” in the Arctic region, including around Greenland.
Leaders acknowledged any respite might be brief, as Trump issued new threats on Thursday over European bond sales.
