Europe is accustomed to internal disagreement. Divergent national interests, political traditions, and historical experiences often make unified responses difficult, particularly on foreign policy. Yet in early 2026, an unexpected catalyst produced an unusually coordinated reaction across the European Union and the United Kingdom. Renewed pressure from the United States over Greenland, driven by Donald Trump’s revived territorial claims and accompanied by sanctions and tariff threats, triggered a rare moment of transatlantic fracture and European alignment.
The response from European capitals was swift and remarkably consistent. Governments rejected not only the substance of the demand but also the manner in which it was delivered. The controversy was not framed as a routine policy dispute or strategic disagreement. Instead, it was widely characterized as a breach of conduct between allies, raising fundamental questions about how power should be exercised within long-standing partnerships.
