Representatives of European Union member states will meet in an extraordinary session today after US President Donald Trump threatened tariffs over Greenland.
Members of the European Parliament and several US lawmakers were among the political leaders who expressed their opposition to the tariff threats and Trump's intention to bring the island under US control.
"The measures against NATO allies announced today will not help ensure security in the Arctic," said Roberta Metsola of Malta.
"They risk the opposite, encouraging our common enemies and those who wish to destroy our shared values and way of life," she added.
"Greenland and Denmark have made it clear: Greenland is not for sale and its sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected. No threat of tariffs can or will change this fact," Metsola concluded.
Several European political leaders signaled a desire to block final approval of an EU-US trade deal that was reached last summer and has already been partially implemented, but which still requires approval in the European Parliament to become official.
Chief among them was Bernd Lange, the early head of the European Parliament's international trade committee.
"The new US tariffs on some countries are unbelievable," Lange said.
"This is no way to treat partners. A new line has been crossed. Unacceptable," he added.
Trump's statement on tariffs also sparked a reaction from US lawmakers.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Democrats would introduce legislation to block the president's tariffs on European countries "before they cause further damage to the American economy and to allies in Europe."
The Senate has previously passed similar resolutions to curb Trump's tariffs with bipartisan support, as they only have a 51-vote threshold.
However, if approved in the Senate, this measure is highly unlikely to be approved in the House of Representatives. /Telegraph/
