Trump Threatens ➟ Europe Unites ➟ Trump Backs Down

𝘛𝘳𝘶𝘮𝘱 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘥 10% 𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘦𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘌𝘶𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘯 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘤𝘦 𝘎𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘯𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥'𝘴 𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯. 𝘌𝘶𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘊𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘥𝘢 𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘪𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘊𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘨𝘭𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘭 "𝘳𝘶𝘱𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦" 𝘢𝘵 𝘋𝘢𝘷𝘰𝘴. 𝘍𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘮𝘰𝘪𝘭, 𝘛𝘳𝘶𝘮𝘱 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯.

𝐀𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐬: Bruce Alpine.

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fter threatening military force to seize Greenland and imposing tariff hikes on opposing European nations, President Trump faced unified EU resistance to his imperial ambitions. 

He backed down, canceling the tariffs and ruling out force.

Trump intensified his pursuit of Greenland, Denmark's autonomous territory, framing it as vital for Arctic strategy against Russia and China, resource access, and U.S. security. 

On January 17, he threatened 10% tariffs on imports from eight European countries—Denmark, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Finland, Britain, and Norway—effective February 1, escalating to 25% by June unless they agreed to transfer Greenland to the U.S. 

Canada faced similar implied pressure for supporting its European allies, risking a trans-atlantic trade conflict and NATO strain. 

Europe reacted with unified resolve. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen vowed a "proportional" response, potentially invoking the bloc's anti-coercion tools. 

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen rejected blackmail, while emergency EU consultations prepared countermeasures. 

Solidarity demonstrations occurred in Greenland and Denmark, and joint military drills underscored allied commitment. 

At the World Economic Forum in Davos on January 20, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney delivered a widely praised speech that captured global attention. 

🇨🇦 Canada Steps Forward as the New Leader of the Free World

What happened in Davos was more than a well received speech. It felt like a geopolitical handover. When Mark Carney finished speaking, delegates rose to their feet in what many observers describe as a rare standing… pic.twitter.com/bR5njZlXEz

— Gandalv (@Microinteracti1) January 22, 2026

Without naming Trump directly, Carney described the international order as undergoing "a rupture, not a transition." 

He declared, "We are in the midst of a rupture," highlighting how great powers now weaponize economic integration—using tariffs as leverage, financial systems for coercion, and supply chains as exploitable weaknesses. 

He criticized the fading illusion of mutual benefit through globalization when it leads to subordination, called on middle powers like Canada to build strategic autonomy and new coalitions, and explicitly stated: "Canada strongly opposes tariffs over Greenland" while standing firmly with Greenland and Denmark. 

The address earned a rare standing ovation from attendees, positioning Carney as a defender of sovereignty amid shifting geopolitics. 

Trump later rebuked Carney, claiming Canada "lives because of the United States" and should be "grateful." 

Donald J. Trump's speech in Davos is probably one of the most embarrassing events America has ever experienced 👀 pic.twitter.com/5EHzMXYj3f

— La Punchline de Yakovleff (@G_Yakovleff) January 21, 2026

Market unease grew over potential disruptions to $1.7 trillion in trans-atlantic trade, amplifying pressure. 

By January 21-22, Trump retreated during Davos. 

After discussions with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, he announced a "framework for a future deal" on Greenland and Arctic security—emphasizing expanded U.S. access, bases, and blocking adversaries—while explicitly ruling out military force: "I don’t have to use force". 

"I won’t use force." He canceled the February tariffs, presenting it as a negotiated victory. 

European and Canadian officials welcomed the de-escalation, though Greenland emphasized self-determination. 

Analysts attributed the backdown to allied unity, economic risks, and alliance concerns. 

The episode revealed persistent tensions in NATO and trade but showed collective pushback could temper unilateral moves—for now, averting crisis through diplomacy.

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