Europe Scrambles to Counter Trump’s Greenland Threat

Option three: economic retaliation

European leaders are also weighing economic pressure. The EU has the ability to retaliate against U.S. trade actions using its anti-coercion tools, targeting key American exports if Washington escalates its threats.

This option carries risks. Europe would need to convince Trump that it is prepared to follow through, something many fear may be difficult given past hesitations. Still, trade leverage remains one of the bloc’s strongest non-military instruments.

Option four: physical deterrence

The most extreme scenario involves deploying European forces to Greenland at Denmark’s request. While no one believes European troops could stop a U.S. invasion outright, their presence could raise the political and moral cost of any military action.

Such a move would be unprecedented within NATO and carries the risk of direct confrontation between allies. Yet some officials argue that even a limited deployment could act as a deterrent by forcing Washington to reconsider the consequences.

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