Donald Trump’s threat to slap punitive tariffs on allies obstructing the annexation of Greenland has proved the "final straw" for European governments: the EU now views a split from the United States as inevitable.
Politico reports regarding the development.
In private conversations, European officials describe Trump's attempt to annex Danish sovereign territory as "madness" and "insanity." Diplomats wonder whether the American president is stuck in "warrior mode" following his Venezuela adventure and are insisting on a harsh response. They view the move as a direct and unprovoked "attack" on their Transatlantic allies.
"I think this is seen as a step over the line. Europe was criticized for weakness regarding Trump. There is truth in that, but there are red lines," said one European diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Life After America
High-ranking EU officials increasingly admit that Trump's America is no longer a reliable trading partner, let alone a security guarantor. The strategy to simply "wait out" his term has been deemed a failure. Instead, Europe is beginning a coordinated shift toward a new reality where Washington no longer plays the central role.
"There is a shift in US policy, and in many ways, it is permanent. Waiting is not the answer. We need an orderly and coordinated move to a new reality," noted a senior official from a European government.
This coordination is already underway via the so-called "Washington Group" — an informal but effective alliance of leaders that solidified around support for Ukraine. The group includes German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. They maintain constant contact via secure messaging apps, reacting swiftly to Trump's outbursts.
"When events move fast, coordination is hard, but this chat works very effectively. It says a lot about personal relationships and their weight," notes a source familiar with the group's operations.
A New Security Architecture
The Greenland crisis has triggered discussions on creating a new defense alliance independent of the US. A week ago, European Commissioner for Defense and Space Andrius Kubilius proposed establishing a standing EU army of 100,000 personnel and reviving the concept of a European Security Council.
Ukraine could play a key role in this configuration. Volodymyr Zelensky also participates in the "Washington Group" chats. Kyiv boasts a massive army, a developed drone industry, and unique combat experience. If the military potential of Ukraine, France, Germany, Poland, and the UK is combined, this newly created alliance would be a formidable force even without US participation.
EU leaders will gather for an emergency summit in the coming days to agree on a response to Trump's blackmail. Following talks with Merz and Starmer, Ursula von der Leyen stated: "We will stand up to these challenges to our European solidarity with resilience and determination."
