China, Russia 'must be having a field day' after Trump's tariff threat over Greenland — EU's Kallas
EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas says Trump's tariffs risk making Europe and the US poorer.
The EU foreign policy chief has criticised US President Donald Trump's plan to impose tariffs on eight countries over Greenland, saying Russia and China "are the ones who benefit" from divisions among allies.
"China and Russia must be having a field day," Kaja Kallas wrote on X on Saturday.
Noting that if Greenland's security is at risk, allies can address it inside NATO, she said tariffs risk making Europe and the US poorer and "undermine our shared prosperity."
"We also cannot let our dispute distract us from our core task of helping to end Russia’s war against Ukraine," added Kallas.
European Council President Antonio Costa and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said tariffs would undermine transatlantic relations and "risk a dangerous downward spiral."
The reactions came after Trump said Washington would impose new tariffs on goods from eight European countries starting February 1, with rates rising sharply in June, citing "national security" concerns linked to Greenland.
'Don't provoke your daddy'
Meanwhile, Russian presidential envoy and head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, Kirill Dmitriev, warned Europe that it should not "provoke their daddy," after Trump's announcement to impose new tariffs on eight European countries for the Greenland dispute.
"Trump slaps 10% tariffs on the UK, Denmark, France, Germany, Finland, Netherlands, and Norway over their 'dangerous game' of sending military to Greenland," Dmitriev wrote on X.
He added that the tariffs amount to "about 1% per soldier sent to Greenland."
Greenland, a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, has attracted US interest due to its strategic location and vast mineral resources, as well as alleged concerns about rising Russian and Chinese activity.
Trump has repeatedly said that the US must “acquire” Greenland for national security and to prevent Russia or China from gaining control of the territory.
Denmark and Greenland have rejected proposals to sell the territory, reaffirming Danish sovereignty over the island.