An emergency EU meeting was called in Brussels after President Donald Trump threatened sweeping tariffs of up to 25% on several European countries unless the U.S. secures a deal to acquire Greenland, a move that has shocked European leaders, rattled markets, and raised fears of a major transatlantic trade and geopolitical confrontation.

Brussels was thrown into sudden diplomatic tension today as the European Union prepared for an extraordinary emergency meeting following a sharp warning from U.S.

President Donald Trump, who threatened to impose sweeping tariffs on multiple European countries over the unresolved and highly sensitive issue of Greenland.

The move, described by EU diplomats as both unexpected and deeply provocative, has reignited fears of a transatlantic trade confrontation at a moment when relations were already strained.

Cyprus, the country currently holding the rotating presidency of the European Union, confirmed that ambassadors from all 27 EU member states would convene later today for an unscheduled meeting to assess the situation and coordinate a response.

According to officials familiar with the agenda, the meeting is set to begin at 17:00 Brussels time, corresponding to 23:00 in Hanoi, underscoring the urgency with which European capitals are treating the threat.

“This is not a routine discussion,” one EU diplomat said privately.

“This is about defending European economic sovereignty.”

The emergency talks were triggered by President Trump’s announcement that the United States would impose a 10 percent tariff on all goods imported from a broad group of European countries, including Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Finland.

According to Trump’s statement, the initial tariffs are scheduled to take effect on February 1 and would rise sharply to 25 percent in early June if Washington’s demands are not met.

While Norway and the UK are not EU members, their inclusion has added another layer of complexity to Europe’s response.

Speaking to reporters during a late-night briefing, Trump framed the proposed tariffs as leverage in negotiations over Greenland, the vast Arctic island that is an autonomous territory of Denmark.

“This is about strategic security, resources, and fairness,” Trump said.

“The United States has a serious interest in Greenland, and these measures will stay in place until we reach an agreement to acquire it completely and absolutely.

” His blunt wording immediately reverberated across European capitals, where officials viewed the remarks as an unprecedented use of economic pressure tied to territorial ambition.

Greenland, rich in rare earth minerals and strategically located in the Arctic, has long attracted interest from major powers as climate change opens new shipping routes and access to untapped resources.

Trump previously floated the idea of purchasing Greenland during his earlier presidency, a proposal that was firmly rejected by Denmark and Greenland’s local government.

The renewed rhetoric has now raised alarms that the issue is no longer symbolic but has become a focal point of concrete economic threats.

In Copenhagen, Danish officials reacted with visible frustration.

A senior government figure, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, “Greenland is not for sale.

Linking trade sanctions to territorial demands crosses a dangerous line.

” Similar sentiments were echoed in Paris and Berlin, where officials warned that the tariffs could damage global supply chains and harm consumers on both sides of the Atlantic.

EU trade experts estimate that the proposed tariffs could affect hundreds of billions of euros in exports, ranging from automobiles and machinery to pharmaceuticals and consumer goods.

“If implemented, these measures would be among the most aggressive trade actions the U.S.

has taken against Europe in decades,” said one Brussels-based analyst.

Markets responded nervously in early trading, with several European exporters seeing shares dip amid fears of an escalating dispute.

Inside EU institutions, the mood ahead of the emergency meeting is described as tense but determined.

Diplomats say discussions will focus on three key issues: whether to seek immediate dialogue with Washington, how to coordinate with non-EU countries affected by the tariffs, and what countermeasures might be prepared if the U.S.

follows through on its threat.

“Europe cannot appear divided,” another diplomat said.

“The message must be unity.”

Public reaction across Europe has been swift.

Social media platforms filled with criticism of Trump’s approach, while commentators questioned whether economic pressure could realistically force a change in Denmark’s position on Greenland.

“This feels less like negotiation and more like coercion,” one Swedish lawmaker wrote online.

As ambassadors gather behind closed doors in Brussels tonight, the Greenland issue has once again proven capable of reshaping global politics far beyond the Arctic.

Whether the emergency meeting leads to de-escalation or sets the stage for a wider trade conflict remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: a long-dormant geopolitical question has abruptly returned to the center of the world stage, carrying with it the risk of a costly confrontation between longtime allies.