Europe is taking stock after several days of US sabre-rattling which risked the end of transatlantic relations, and potentially the end of NATO. While the threat of a takeover of Greenland seems to be over, trust among the US's allies has been badly eroded – perhaps permanently.
EU leaders will meet tonight for an emergency summit in Brussels to discuss the uneasy truce which has broken out among Europe and the US after President Trump backed down from his plans to "take" Greenland from Denmark.
An eleventh-hour agreement to move the fate of the Danish protectorate to a diplomatic framework aimed at increasing US influence over Arctic security has deescalated the situation, at least for now.
But EU sources have told Euronews that while they are relieved at the latest developments, there’s no guarantee the matter won’t re-emerge in a similarly hostile manner in the future.
“For now, we’re cautiously optimistic this new diplomat track is a good solution but let's face it we’re dealing with the Trump administration. You saw what happened with the UK and the Chagos Islands," an EU official told Euronews.
Earlier in the week, Trump blasted the UK government's decision to hand back the Chagos Islands to Mauritius as "an act of GREAT STUPIDITY" (sic), months after endorsing the policy.
On Greenland, the finer details regarding provisions for potentially greater US access to the Arctic island are yet to be fully fleshed out. But in a statement this morning, Danish Prime Minister Mette Fredericksen said Copenhagen is prepared to hold talks with the White House on its proposed "Golden Dome" missile defence system.
Denmark has been consistent in its position that no impediment exists for the US to expand his military footprint across the Arctic island.
"NATO is fully aware of the Kingdom of Denmark’s position. We can negotiate about everything politically – security, investments, the economy. But we cannot negotiate about our sovereignty,” Frederiksen said. "Denmark will continue to take part in talks with allies about security in the Arctic, but only if the country’s sovereignty is respected."
The Danish government says it's confident that the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Denmark and Greenland will remain intact as part of Wednesday's settlement, which was negotiated by Mark Rutte, Secretary General of NATO.
“The Secretary General had a very productive meeting with President Trump during which they discussed the critical significance of security in the Arctic region to all Allies, including the United States”, NATO spokesperson Allison Hart said in a statement.
“Discussions among NATO Allies on the framework the President referenced will focus on ensuring Arctic security through the collective efforts of Allies, especially the seven Arctic Allies.
“Negotiations between Denmark, Greenland, and the United States will go forward aimed at ensuring that Russia and China never gain a foothold - economically or militarily - in Greenland”, she added.
"He is a deal-maker"
Meanwhile, Rutte told pro-Trump US network Fox News that the guiding principle in his discussions with relevant parties was “how can we implement the president’s vision on protecting yes, Greenland – not only Greenland – the whole Arctic", he said.
An off-ramp for US President Trump to back down from his threat to impose ten per cent tariffs on eight European countries by February 1 was in play as early as Monday, NATO sources told Euronews.
“The matter needed to be discussed among allies, and with Secretary General Mark Rutte, and not litigated in open press,” a source close to the situation told Euronews after Trump announced his decision to reverse course.
“Stuff doesn’t get solved amid the noise of the press, but ultimately, he is a deal-maker and he’s made an agreement with Rutte," the source said.
Trump posted late Wednesday evening that he “will not be imposing the tariffs that were scheduled to go into effect on February 1", and that he made the decision “based upon a very productive meeting” with Mark Rutte.
On Tuesday, Euronews revealed that some in NATO were “cautiously optimistic” that Trump's escalating threats toward Greenland could be headed off.
As reported, the decision by eight European allies in announcing short-term troop deployments as part of a reconnaissance mission to Greenland may have been "misperceived" by the White House as a statement of defiance, one source said.
The fact that many of the soldiers then left Greenland as planned was seen as a way of pacifying Trump.