'National Security' Trumps NATO? EU Says Russia, China Having 'Field Day' Over Greenland Turmoil

Last Updated:January 18, 2026, 11:55 IST

The EU's top diplomat Kaja Kallas said a division among allies -- US and majority EU member countries are part of NATO -- will benefit China and Russia

US President Donald Trump's imposition of a 10% tariff on eight European countries for opposing his plans to control Greenland has created unprecedented tension within the military alliance of NATO. (Image: AFP/File)

Greenland has never fought a war. But its shadow looms large over the mineral-rich Arctic island, which apparently requires American takeover for the purpose of “national security" if US President Donald Trump is to be believed.

Trump’s claims? Russia and China are trying to control Greenland. He, however, has not presented any evidence but his imposition of a 10 percent tariff on eight European countries for opposing his designs on the island has created unprecedented tension within military alliance NATO, of which the US and majority EU members are a part.

Denmark, which is a NATO ally of the US, is one of the countries to be hit with Trump’s tariff and also the country under which Greenland is an autonomous territory. 

Viewing his tariff move as a “dangerous downward spiral", EU leaders stressed that this will “undermine transatlantic relations" while also promising to uphold Europe’s sovereignty. The bloc’s top diplomat Kaja Kallas said tariffs will hurt prosperity on both sides of the Atlantic, while distracting from the “core task" of ending Russia’s war in Ukraine.

“China and Russia must be having a field day. They are the ones who benefit from divisions among allies," Kallas said on X. “Tariffs risk making Europe and the United States poorer and undermine our shared prosperity. If Greenland’s security is at risk, we can address this inside NATO."

The EU has convened a meeting of ambassadors from its 27 member countries on Sunday for an emergency meeting to discuss their response to the tariff threat.

(With agency inputs)

News world 'National Security' Trumps NATO? EU Says Russia, China Having 'Field Day' Over Greenland Turmoil

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