Trump has announced 10% tariffs from 1 February on Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland for sending their troops to an exercise in Greenland, adding that the tariffs will remain in force until the United States is allowed to purchase Greenland.
Croatian MEPs described this as a signal for the EU to reduce vulnerabilities stemming from energy, production and military dependence.
Tonino Picula (S&D/SDP) told Hina Europe must resist external pressure and take the opportunity to build a more effective common foreign, security and defence policy, noting that reliance on the US leaves the EU exposed in a changing geopolitical landscape.
Davor Ivo Stier (EPP/HDZ) called the situation a transatlantic crisis, stressing that while Croatia remains in solidarity with Denmark, it is for Europe collectively -- not individual member states -- to develop defence capabilities. He warned that Europe cannot achieve self-sufficiency overnight, but must accelerate progress.
"Croatia is doing its part, as we face specific threats from our own neighbourhood and must focus on those," Stier, a member of the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee (AFET), told Hina, adding that while Croatia stands in solidarity with Denmark, "it is not for Croatia, for example, to send troops to Greenland."
French President Emmanuel Macron has called on the European Union to activate the Anti-Coercion Instrument in reaction to Trump's threats of tariffs.
Željana Zovko (EPP/HDZ), a member of the EP's Foreign Affairs Committee (AFET) and Delegation for Relations with the United States, told Hina that using this tool would signal "the end of EU-US relations". She added that Macron, "at the end of his term, is making big, bombastic statements without taking responsibility for what comes next."
"France is a nuclear power, but other European countries still rely on US protection in case of danger," Zovko said, adding that "no one is considering the long-term consequences of undermining bridges and relationships."
She warned that "we all know how many interests are at stake, from Ukraine to all the critical security points where Europe currently still heavily depends on US security support. It would take roughly ten years before Europe could reach a level of self-sufficiency."
Zovko described Trump's "Greenland performance" as a form of bluffing aimed at increasing Europe's engagement on the island. "He has cards up his sleeve to challenge us into stepping up our involvement. Ursula von der Leyen also announced today that we will invest in infrastructure projects there, as not enough has been done so far."
Picula, also a member of AFET and the EP's US delegation, suggested that Trump's threats might be a negotiating tactic, leaving room for a de-escalatory offer. "The only question is whether he has gone too far, because he is addressing not just European interlocutors, Greenlanders and the Danes, but also his MAGA voter base, to whom he promised not to act as the world's policeman -- something he has convincingly denied, for example, via Venezuela."
Stier noted that the tariffs could also backfire on Trump ahead of the midterm elections on 3 November, where Republicans will face a tough challenge in maintaining their slim Congressional majority.
"The tariffs are a double-edged sword even for Trump because they act as a sort of tax on US citizens. Moreover, his own voters, the MAGA base, oppose any ventures involving US military engagement. As Trump himself promised during his campaign, and after the debacle in Afghanistan," Stier said, adding that Europe's interest lies in "the survival of NATO, the survival of the transatlantic alliance," while also "respecting Europe's dignity."
"There are specific security aspects regarding Greenland and the Arctic that we need and want to discuss and cooperate with the US on, but the future of Greenland is for the Greenlandic people and Denmark to decide. No coercion can be acceptable," Stier added.
Tomislav Sokol (EPP) told Hina that Europe's biggest weakness is its military inferiority to the US, which, he said, is used for what amounts to blackmail. He added, "Europe's fundamental Achilles' heel is military weakness, though in all other areas we are stronger."