The extreme strategy of Donald Trump for the annexation of Greenland to the United States is provoking furious reactions in Europe, with Brussels even examining the dissolution of NATO and the formation of a new strategic defense alliance inspired by the Alliance of the Willing for Ukraine.
More specifically, political and military actors of the European Union are examining the creation of a new defense alliance that would replace NATO without the participation of the United States, based on the model of an Alliance of the Willing, reports Politico, citing sources close to Brussels.
This form could potentially constitute the basis for a new security alliance at a time when the United States no longer supports NATO and European security.
The new agreement does not exclude cooperation with America, but it no longer considers it a given, Politico reveals.
Alternative NATO without the United States modeled on the Alliance of the Willing is being promoted by Brussels
According to the report by Politico, following the statements of the President of the United States, Donald Trump, regarding the need for the annexation of Greenland, contacts intensified among the national security advisers of the 35 member states of the so called Alliance of the Willing.
According to European officials, the model of the Alliance of the Willing has proven its effectiveness, attracting states outside the EU, such as the United Kingdom and Norway.
"The Alliance of the Willing initially focused exclusively on issues concerning Ukraine, but it has developed very close ties among certain key figures in the capitals.
They know each other by their first names and are able to communicate easily," an anonymous senior European official stated in a comment to Politico.
The basis for the communication was an informal conversation among European leaders who met with Donald Trump in Washington on 18 August, together with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Sources of Politico note that the informal form of communication allows EU leaders to provide a coordinated response to changing global conditions as quickly as possible.
Who is moving behind the scenes for the dissolution of NATO
According to Politico, there are very specific political centers in Europe that are moving toward withdrawal from NATO.
The central players behind this plan are the following:
1) The French President Emmanuel Macron
2) The German Chancellor Friedrich Merz
3) The British Prime Minister Keir Starmer
4) The President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen
5) The President of Finland Alexander Stubb
Journalists believe that European politicians may be interested in creating an alliance based on an Alliance of the Willing, given the level of militarization of Ukraine and the development of the country’s military industrial complex.
It is noted that such a framework could constitute a response to Kyiv’s aspirations for accession to NATO and provide an additional security guarantee, given the stance of the Donald Trump administration on this issue.
Macron proposed the use of a bazooka against Trump
As Le Monde writes, Emmanuel Macron wants to apply the means of tough and proportional countermeasures, that is by activating the so called trade bazooka of the EU.
Following the decision of the White House, the French leader articulated the need for a response from the European Union and called on EU members to resist the threat of tariffs against them.
"No intimidation or threat will affect us, neither in Ukraine, nor in Greenland, nor anywhere else in the world, when we face similar situations," Emmanuel Macron stated.
According to the Washington Post, on 18 January, EU ambassadors discussed the possibility of trade retaliation against the United States in a closed session.
Most European diplomats chose to try to de escalate the situation, but a number of countries, including France, came out in favor of tough retaliation against American businesses.
Anger across the EU over Trump’s threats - Socialists and Conservatives on the same side
According to The Guardian, a number of members of the European Parliament, from the far left to the far right, also called for the suspension of the trade agreement concluded in the summer of 2025.
According to the report, the informal reason for concluding such an unequal agreement between the EU and Washington was the hope of maintaining White House military aid to Ukraine.
However, the actions of the Donald Trump administration regarding Greenland are now convincing European politicians to reconsider the agreement and halt its ratification.
"The imposition of tariffs will undermine transatlantic relations and create the risk of a dangerous downward spiral.
Europe will remain united, coordinated, and committed to defending its sovereignty," as emphasized in a joint statement by the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and the President of the European Council António Costa.
Up in the air the Steadfast Dart exercises due to United States tariffs on the EU - Anger in Germany over Trump’s threats
Even in Germany, which is considered moderate in the conflict with the United States, reactions against the Trump administration are stormy, while the opposition does not hesitate to even call for the cancellation of NATO exercises.
The party Die Linke called, as a first step, on the member states of the EU to cancel the NATO sponsored exercise Steadfast Dart, which had just begun, among other places, on German territory.
Meanwhile, a few days ago, the German Minister of Defense Boris Pistorius had sounded the alarm regarding the possible annexation of Greenland, warning that it could even lead to the dissolution of the North Atlantic Alliance.
Shock call from Linke: "Cancel the Steadfast Dart exercise now, respond to the Emperor Trump"
More specifically, in response to the threats of the President of the United States, Donald Trump, to impose new tariffs on several countries, including Germany, the German Left Party Die Linke called for the cancellation of the NATO exercise Steadfast Dart.
"If Germany and Europe do not react now and do not resist Donald Trump, this would be emperor will feel even more justified," said Janis Ehling, federal chairman of the Left Party, at a press conference in Berlin.
As a first step, it called on the member states of the EU to cancel the NATO sponsored exercise Steadfast Dart, which had just begun.
According to Janis Ehling, Europe must now actively work toward a system of collective security without NATO and the United States, which he described as an adversary.
"We say goodbye to NATO, hello Europe," the politician concluded.
Pistorius: NATO is directly threatened by Trump’s threats
For his part, the German Minister of Defense Boris Pistorius believes that it is unlikely that the United States will seize Greenland, adding that such a step would have consequences for NATO.
"I do not think we will get there," Pistorius said in an interview with the television channel ZDF.
"I cannot predict the future and it is possible that I will be proven wrong, for better or for worse."
At the same time, the German Minister of Defense stated that "voices are also being heard in the United States of those who categorically oppose this."
As he said, a United States military attack on NATO territory would constitute "an unprecedented step that would undoubtedly have consequences for the Alliance."
"I do not think it is right to constantly focus on hypothetical scenarios.
We simply have to do our job," Pistorius said, adding that he does not see a risk of confrontation with the United States and that he considers Trump’s threats to be "part of a mindset."
Exercise involving 10.000 soldiers and 11 NATO countries in the air
On 15 January, the news agency DPA reported that NATO began deploying 10.000 soldiers, along with military equipment and vehicles, to Germany as part of the Steadfast Dart exercise, in which 11 NATO countries will participate: Belgium, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Greece, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Bulgaria, and Turkey.
The purpose of the maneuvers is to practice the rapid deployment of NATO troops in the event of a conflict.
More than 1.500 units of military equipment will participate, including tanks and missile launchers, more than 20 aircraft, and nearly the same number of naval vessels, including landing ships, frigates, and submarines.
The main stages of the exercise will take place in February and will be conducted mainly in Germany, including a training area near Bergen in Lower Saxony.
For the newly established Allied Reaction Force (AFC), this will be the first exercise under NATO’s Brunssum Command in the Netherlands, which covers Germany and the eastern flank of the alliance.
Trump’s punishing tariffs on Europe
As previously announced by the President of the United States on the social media platform TruthSocial, Washington will begin imposing import tariffs of 10% on the United Kingdom, Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, Finland, France, and Sweden, which will remain in effect until the parties reach an agreement "for the full and complete acquisition" of Greenland by the United States.
According to Donald Trump, this decision will take effect on 1 February.
The President clarified that the tariff rate will increase to 25% on 1 June.
Intense discussions about withdrawals from NATO also in France
However, the rifts within the North Atlantic alliance are not limited to Berlin.
The Vice President of the French National Assembly, Clémence Guetté, stated on 9/1/2026 that France is ready to withdraw from NATO.
Guetté announced her intention to put to a vote in the lower house a proposal for France’s withdrawal from NATO, starting with an exit from the coalition’s integrated command.
Guetté herself emphasized that this initiative arose from the latest geopolitical actions of the United States, which in her view demonstrate a departure from European values and the excessive influence of Washington on the strategic decisions of the Alliance.
Among her denunciations were the incident involving the abduction of the President of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, by American forces, military aid to Israel for the genocide in Palestine, and Trump’s threats regarding the annexation of Greenland.
The Vice President of the National Assembly comes from the opposition faction La France Insoumise of Jean Luc Mélenchon.
Anger in Paris at the United States and Trump
This is an extremely significant development that brings serious issues to the forefront regarding France’s foreign policy and international relations, as well as the strength of NATO as a military coalition.
The issue does not concern only France and its policy in Europe, but also has broader geopolitical implications, as it touches on Europe’s relations with the United States and their strategic decisions.
Essentially, this is a political challenge that could change France’s position on the international stage and affect NATO’s strategic strength in the region.
The background to these statements is the steadily growing dissatisfaction in Europe with American leadership in NATO, which is said not to reflect the needs or wishes of European allies, but rather to impose policies that primarily serve the interests of the United States.
At the extremes Trump and Europe - Denmark asked Rutte to create a NATO mission for Greenland
The Minister of Defense of Denmark, Troels Lund Poulsen, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greenland, Viviane Motzfeldt, proposed to the Secretary General of NATO, Mark Rutte, during a meeting in Brussels, the establishment of an Alliance mission in the Arctic.
The Danish minister announced the proposal to Greenlandic media after the conclusion of the talks.
"We proposed this, and the Secretary General of NATO took it into consideration," Troels Lund Poulsen stated, according to the news agency Ritzau.
"I hope that we can develop a framework for this," he emphasized.
The Minister of Defense of Denmark added that Mark Rutte listened carefully to the ministers.
"I believe that the Secretary General fully understands the problem we are facing," the Danish politician stated.
This also applies to "issues related to NATO," he continued.
The United States is the member of the Alliance with the greatest influence.
"If the United States were to leave NATO tomorrow, we would have enormous difficulty coping with it on our own," Troels Lund Poulsen noted, adding that Denmark will continue its efforts for dialogue with the United States regarding Greenland and the Arctic.
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