Davos, Jan 20 (NationPress) European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated on Tuesday that the European Union (EU) will respond to US President Donald Trump's tariffs on European countries concerning Greenland in an unwavering, cohesive, and proportional manner.

During her address at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Leyen emphasized, "We view the citizens of the United States not merely as our allies, but as our friends."

"Engaging in a perilous downward spiral would only benefit the very adversaries we are both determined to exclude from our strategic sphere. Therefore, our response will indeed be unwavering, cohesive, and proportional," Euro News reported Ursula von der Leyen as saying.

The EU leader also expressed the desire to enhance collaboration with the US in the Arctic region and labeled the implementation of additional tariffs a "miscalculation." She remarked, "Arctic security can only be achieved collaboratively. This is why the suggested additional tariffs are a blunder, especially among long-time allies."

Additionally, she referred to the EU-US trade agreement finalized on July 27, 2025, which established a comprehensive 15% tariff on most EU products. She reiterated, "In both politics and business – a deal is a deal. When friends shake hands, it should hold significance," Euro News reported.

Her comments followed the escalation of tensions after Trump threatened new tariffs on certain European nations supporting Greenland, prompting EU officials and member states to deliberate potential responses while maintaining diplomatic dialogue.

Previously, Ursula von der Leyen declared that the sovereignty of Greenland and Denmark must be "clearly" respected, stressing that this matter is of "paramount importance" to the transatlantic alliance. She made this statement in a post on social media platform X following a meeting with a bipartisan US Congressional delegation at the WEF.

"In Davos, I engaged with a bipartisan US Congressional delegation. We examined our collective endeavors to secure a just and enduring peace in Ukraine. This process is bolstered by robust EU-US coordination, from security assurances to pathways toward prosperity. I also highlighted the necessity to unequivocally respect the sovereignty of Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark," she shared in a post on X.

"This is critically important to our transatlantic relationship. Simultaneously, the European Union remains prepared to collaborate closely with the United States, NATO, and other allies, in close cooperation with Denmark, to advance our mutual security objectives. We also discussed transatlantic trade and investment, which are significant assets for both the EU and US economies. Tariffs contradict these shared interests," she added.

Earlier on Saturday, Trump announced via social media that the US would impose a 10% tariff starting February 1 on goods from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, and Finland concerning Greenland, escalating the tax to 25% in June unless an agreement is reached for the US to acquire the territory.

Greenland, recognized as the world's largest island, is a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, with Copenhagen retaining authority over defense and foreign policy.

The United States operates a military base on the island. Since resuming office in 2025, Trump has consistently expressed interest in "acquiring" Greenland.