European leaders are increasingly caught in a precarious diplomatic balancing act as they seek to defend Greenland’s sovereignty while avoiding a rupture with US President Donald Trump, whose support remains critical for Ukraine’s war effort against Russia.
For much of the past year, keeping Trump engaged in Europe’s foremost priority — resisting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine — has shaped almost every major strategic decision on the continent.
Despite Europe being the largest financial donor to Kyiv, officials privately acknowledge that US-made weapons and Washington’s role at the negotiating table are indispensable to any lasting resolution of the conflict.
This dependence has translated into significant concessions. European governments have swallowed punitive trade measures imposed by Trump, including sweeping tariffs on EU exports, viewing them as the cost of maintaining American security guarantees.
As European Commissioner for Trade Maroš Šefčovič bluntly put it in June, the issue extends beyond commerce to security, Ukraine and broader geopolitical volatility.
That same logic is now evident in Europe’s cautious response to Trump’s renewed threats to seize Greenland, a semi-autonomous Danish territory, even floating the possibility of military force.
While the rhetoric strikes at the heart of international law and territorial integrity, European capitals have largely avoided direct confrontation.
The dilemma was laid bare this week in Paris during a meeting of the so-called “Coalition of the Willing,” convened by French President Emmanuel Macron to advance security guarantees for Ukraine.
The gathering was notable for the first in-person attendance of Trump’s chief negotiators, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, signalling Washington’s continued involvement.
Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer struck an upbeat tone afterward, highlighting “operational convergence” and “excellent progress” with the United States on Ukraine. Yet questions quickly turned to Greenland.
Asked whether Europe could still trust Washington, Macron stressed America’s role as a NATO ally and signatory to the UN Charter, expressing no doubt about its commitment. Starmer echoed the sentiment, emphasising the UK’s close defence and intelligence ties with the US.
A joint statement by European leaders, including Denmark, carefully defended Greenland by invoking sovereignty and the inviolability of borders — principles central to Europe’s stance on Ukraine. However, it stopped short of explicitly condemning Trump’s annexation threats or outlining consequences.
The silence recalls Europe’s restrained reaction to the recent US-backed removal of Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro, which only Spain openly criticised as a breach of international law. Diplomats concede that provoking Trump while negotiating Ukraine’s future is viewed as too risky.
Yet Greenland presents a different challenge. As Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has warned, an annexation would undermine the post-World War II security order Europe relies upon to oppose Russian aggression.
Analysts describe Europe as trapped in a “double bind.” Criticising Trump risks jeopardising Ukraine’s future; staying silent erodes Europe’s credibility. For now, faced with a transactional US president, European leaders appear resigned to walking an ever-narrowing tightrope.