Tensions between the United States and its Western allies escalated sharply on Thursday as French President Emmanuel Macron warned against a “new colonial approach” to global affairs, following President Donald Trump’s renewed insistence that the United States must take control of Greenland.
Speaking to world leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Macron cautioned that the international system was drifting towards “a world without rules,” arguing that sovereignty and multilateral norms were under growing threat. He described the “endless accumulation of new tariffs” announced by Washington as “fundamentally unacceptable,” warning that unilateral pressure could destabilise long-standing alliances.
Macron’s remarks came hours after Trump declared there was “no going back” on his ambition to secure Greenland, insisting the Arctic territory was “imperative for national and world security.” The US president has also threatened to impose new tariffs on countries that oppose his plan, intensifying fears of a widening trade conflict between Washington and its allies.
At Davos, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent urged European leaders not to retaliate, calling for restraint and dialogue. “Sit back. Take a deep breath. Do not retaliate,” Bessent said, adding that Trump would personally convey his message to world leaders. He warned that escalation would be “the worst thing” for relations with the United States and noted that Greenland’s strategic value had preoccupied American presidents for more than 150 years.
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The row has already begun to reshape transatlantic trade relations. Sources in Brussels said the European Parliament is preparing to suspend approval of a long-negotiated EU–US trade deal amid the Greenland dispute. The agreement, reached in July 2025 between Trump and Ursula von der Leyen, lowered US tariffs on EU exports to 15%, averting a threatened 30% levy. However, without parliamentary ratification, EU retaliatory tariffs on €93bn worth of US goods are now set to take effect from 7 February.
The standoff has also drawn in other Western partners. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, addressing delegates in Davos, said Canada “stands firmly with Greenland and Denmark” and fully supports their right to determine the territory’s future. He stressed that Canada’s commitment to NATO’s Article 5 remained “unwavering” and said Ottawa strongly opposed the use of tariffs linked to Greenland.
Canada’s Foreign Minister, Anita Anand, described the situation as “a moment of stress” for the Western alliance. She confirmed plans to travel to Greenland next month to open a Canadian consulate, underlining Ottawa’s interest in Arctic diplomacy. Anand also defended Canada’s recent trade engagements with China, suggesting a shifting global order in which traditional alliances are under strain.
Within Europe, opposition to Trump’s stance has been vocal. Influential German lawmaker Manfred Weber said approval of the EU–US trade deal was “not possible at this stage” following Washington’s tariff threats. Analysts warn that if EU countermeasures are triggered, US exporters—from agriculture to aerospace—could face significant losses, potentially fuelling domestic backlash against Trump’s strategy.
As diplomatic, economic and security tensions converge, Macron’s warning has resonated widely in Davos: that a return to power politics and territorial ambition risks undermining the rules-based order that has underpinned Western cooperation for decades. Whether dialogue prevails over escalation may determine not only the future of Greenland, but also the stability of the transatlantic alliance itself.
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