The EU has dismissed Trump’s threat of tariffs on Greenland as a mistake, and is calling for European independence as Davos begins.

The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has called President Trump’s threat Hitting America’s eight NATO allies with tariffs on their stance Greenland “mistake” on Tuesday. Speaking at the opening of the Davos economic conference in Switzerland, Von der Leyen said Mr Trump’s threats risked plunging Europe’s relations with the US into a “downward spiral”.

“When it comes to the security of the Arctic region, Europe is fully committed and we share the goals of the United States,” von der Leyen said, citing as an example the move by Finland, NATO’s newest member, to sell icebreakers to the United States.

“It shows that NATO’s northern members have Arctic-ready forces right now. And above all, Arctic security can only be achieved together. And that’s why the proposed additional tariffs are a mistake, especially among long-time allies. The European Union and the US have. They agreed on a trade deal last Julyand in politics, and in business, a deal is a deal, and when friends shake hands, it has to say something,” von der Leyen said.

Greenland has been a semi-autonomous Danish territory for more than 70 years, and Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told the country’s parliament on Tuesday that “the worst is yet to come” in a row with the Trump administration.

“Now we are threatening our closest ally,” he said, according to The Associated Press.

Both Frederiks and Von der Leyen’s comments came after President Trump threatened to impose a blanket 10% tariff on imports from eight NATO allies if they continue to reject his offer to acquire Greenland. Mr Trump has said those tariffs could rise to 25% by June if countries continue to resist.

Von der Leyen said the EU’s 27 member nations “consider the people of the United States not only our allies, but also our friends, and plunging into a downward spiral will only help the adversaries we are so committed to keeping both out of the strategic landscape. So our response will be continuous, united and proportionate.”

He said the EU was working on a package of measures to further support Arctic security, the first principle of which is “full solidarity with Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark”.

“Their territorial sovereignty and integrity is non-negotiable,” Von der Leyen said, adding that the EU will work with Greenland and Denmark to explore how it can support infrastructure there, as well as “working with the US and all partners on broader Arctic security. This is clearly our shared interest, and we will increase investment.”

Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen, who is not attending the Davos conference, said his government has met with NATO members and other allies, and said Western countries must come together “with respect for national, territorial integrity (and) international law,” according to The Associated Press.