EU gives Denmark 'full support' against Trump's threats, says European Council president

Hind Al Soulia - Riyadh - BRUSSELS — The European Union gives "full support" to Denmark against Donald Trump's threat to take control of Greenland and stands ready to defend the principles of national sovereignty and territorial integrity as it did when Russia launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, António Costa told Euronews in a wide-ranging interview.

"It is these fundamental principles that lead us to support Ukraine. It is these fundamental principles that lead us to condemn the violations of the border in the Democratic Republic of the Congo," the president of the European Council said.

"We must not stop defending these principles when the territorial integrity of a member state of the European Union is at stake," he added.

"The territorial integrity of Denmark, the sovereignty of Denmark, the stability of its borders, as you can imagine, is obviously an essential issue for us."

Ever since Trump refused to rule out using economic coercion and military force to seize Greenland, the bloc has been on edge, trying to figure out how serious the threat is. Over the weekend, the US president doubled down on his expansionist agenda.

"I think we're going to have it," Trump told reporters. "I don't really know what claim Denmark has to it, but it would be a very unfriendly act if they didn't allow that to happen because it's for the protection of the free world."

In reaction, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen embarked on a rapid mini-tour across Europe to shore up political unity for the unprecedented challenge. Frederiksen said she is open to deepening military ties with America but insists the semi-autonomous island, which is part of the Kingdom of Denmark, is not for sale.

A new poll shows that 85% of adults in Greenland oppose Trump's plans.

Although Greenland is not a member of the EU, it enjoys special access to EU funds and freedom of movement for Greenlanders, who are considered EU citizens. The European Commission has confirmed that, in case of military aggression, Greenland would be covered by the mutual defense clause laid out by the treaties.

"Greenland is part of the territory of the Kingdom of Denmark. Denmark is a sovereign state. Denmark defines its interests and the European Union will support Denmark," Costa said, repeatedly stressing the need to uphold international law.

"We are not going to speculate. We are naturally hoping that this conflict (does) not turn into a conflict and, if there is a conflict, it is resolved amicably, as is fitting between allies."

During the interview with Euronews, recorded on Wednesday afternoon, Costa expressed his hope to establish a constructive dialogue with the Trump administration, which is guided by an "American First" mantra that appears to be directly at odds with the EU's long-standing commitment to the multilateral system.

Costa and Trump have not yet spoken since the latter's inauguration.

"Just as the United States wants to protect its interests, the European Union has the responsibility to defend the interests of its companies, its citizens and our union. This is a dialogue that should take place in a normal, calm manner, without anxiety," Costa said.

"For our part, we have the desire, as we have always had, to maintain a good relationship with the United States and, therefore, if and when the United States feels that there is an issue to raise with the European Union, we are here to talk to the United States."

Among his campaign promises, Trump pitched across-the-board tariffs on all imported goods, including those coming from Europe. Indiscriminate duties could hit the bloc's economy hard when it is already suffering from industrial decline and sluggish investment.

Costa warned EU-US diplomacy should not take place "through public statements in the media" or be influenced by speculation. Brussels, he said, would do its best to settle any dispute that might arise – and reserve the right to strike back as appropriate.

"If and when the problem arises, we will naturally look at the problem. We will try to resolve it or we will react. That is part of the way things are," he said.

"What history has taught us is that we have always been able to overcome these moments to the mutual benefit of both parties."

A former prime minister of Portugal, Costa took the reins of the European Council in early December, marking the start of the new legislative mandate. One of his priorities as president is to streamline the often long-winded discussions between EU leaders and focus minds on wider strategic issues, rather than the energy-consuming nitty-gritty.

At the very top of his agenda is defense, which Russia's war on Ukraine has turned into a quasi-existential matter for the bloc.

Costa will gather the 27 leaders, together with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, for an informal summit on Monday exclusively dedicated to defense and EU-US relations.

While heads of state and government agree boosting military spending is imperative, they still cannot decide which method is the most effective. France, Poland and the Baltics have proposed issuing a new round of joint debt but Germany, Austria and the Netherlands remain reluctant to swell the financial burden of the cash-strapped bloc.

Asked if he was in favour of common borrowing, Costa declined to take a clear stance and said the informal summit should serve as a "brainstorming day" to steer the process into concrete results. "All ideas are very much welcome and should be discussed in an open, frank manner among the 27 member states," he said.

Looming over the debate will be Trump's recent proposal to hike NATO's target to spend 2% of GDP on defense to a 5% rate, which not even the US meets.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has praised Trump's pressure campaign. Last month, Rutte said NATO citizens should "accept to make sacrifices" such as cuts to their pensions, health and social services to ensure Europe's long-term security.

"We are aware that defense is a fundamental public good and therefore obviously requires funding to ensure this fundamental public good. I do not believe that the choice has to be made in the terms in which the NATO Secretary General stated," Costa said.

"All member states have different objectives in their budgetary policy," he added, speaking of healthcare, education, climate action and the digital transition. "Budgetary choices are always multiple and necessarily a combination of all of them."

In Costa's view, defense should not be an "individual effort" made only by the countries closer to Russia, and consequently more exposed to the Kremlin's interference, but by all the 27 member states, who share the same space enclosed by the same borders.

"Does this mean that the Atlantic states should feel any less obliged to contribute to the defense and support the collective defense effort? No. I think that the duty of solidarity and also our own interest advises that we, all together, regard these borders as our common border. And therefore it must require everyone's efforts," Costa said.

"I think it would be completely unfair to say that Poland has to ensure its own defense, which is not only Poland's but all of ours. Or that the Baltic states have to ensure their defense as if it's only theirs and not ours too. No, I think that if we are all of us, perhaps we should all contribute to this collective defense."

Making sure the 27 leaders are on the same page is Costa's main task as president of the European Council. But keeping this unity intact is becoming increasingly difficult as the bloc's economic outlook darkens, the war in Ukraine drags on and far-right parties continue their seemingly unstoppable rise in opinion polls.

This fragility came to the fore last week when Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán threatened to block the renewal of all the sectorial sanctions imposed against Russia, arguing Trump's inauguration merited a broader rethink of the punitive policy.

Orbán eventually backed down after securing a non-binding statement on energy security. But the episode was a stark reminder of how unanimity rules can be used to paralyse, derail or even dismantle collection decisions at the European level.

During his time as Portuguese prime minister, Costa developed a friendly relationship with Orbán, which might come in handy in his new job as chief moderator. Also on his radar is Slovakia's Robert Fico, who is involved in a bitter dispute with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy over the transit of Russian gas.

"Don't all countries have the same interpretation of this war? Yes, it is true. But the truth is that we have always managed, unanimously, to take all the positions that were decisive to support Ukraine in its efforts in a safe and predictable way, and that is how we must continue. And the construction of a common foreign and security policy is an asset for everyone," Costa said.

"The way in which each person sees the world based on their history and geographical position is obviously not the same. This has been the case several times. With the conflict in the Middle East, there has not always been a common view. But there has always been one thing that is more important: the desire to continue together, knowing that together we are stronger and that by being stronger, we are greater."

Should Hungary and Slovakia leave the bloc? Costa would not say. However, he noted membership was an "act of freedom", as the UK proved when it voted for Brexit.

"Despite the different points of view and the diversity of opinions, there is a huge common desire among the 27 to be together," he said. "That is why we are here. And that is why many others want to join us." — Euronews