Von der Leyen Calls for European Independence Amid Trump Greenland Demands

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called for a new era of European strategic independence during addresses at the World Economic Forum in Davos and the European Parliament on January 20 and 21, 2026. The push follows U.S. President Donald Trump's efforts to acquire Greenland and his threats to impose a 10% tariff on eight European NATO members—including Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, and the UK—to pressure the sale. Trump also threatened 200% tariffs on French wine and 25% tariffs on multiple other nations.

Von der Leyen described the shift in the international order as seismic and permanent, arguing that Europe must abandon traditional caution to navigate a world defined by raw power. She reaffirmed that Greenland's sovereignty is non-negotiable and proposed a dedicated Arctic security package. To achieve autonomy, she outlined a plan to increase European defense spending to €800 billion by 2030 and create "EU Inc." to streamline business operations.

Strategically, the EU is pivoting toward new global partnerships, with von der Leyen announcing that the bloc is on the cusp of a historic free trade agreement with India. She is scheduled to visit India on January 25 to co-chair the 16th India-EU Summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. While emphasizing the need for independence, von der Leyen maintained that the EU remains committed to cooperating with the U.S. and NATO. Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron suggested the EU might deploy its Anti-Coercion Instrument to sanction U.S. companies if the aggressive tariff threats continue.