BRUSSELS 

The EU firmly backs Greenland and Denmark in defending their territorial integrity, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Tuesday, stressing that sovereignty cannot be treated as a bargaining chip.

"Greenland belongs to its people. No threat or tariffs will change that. Sovereignty is not for trade," Kallas told the European Parliament during a plenary debate on recent US remarks regarding Greenland, adding that the EU's response must remain calm, unified, and grounded in international law.

Kallas emphasized that no country has the right to take over the territory of another. "Not in Ukraine, not in Greenland, not anywhere in the world," she said, underscoring the EU’s commitment to a rules-based international order.

She noted that discussions regarding Greenland’s future are being held directly between Denmark and Greenland, and that external pressures or threats are counterproductive.

"They only risk making both Europe and the United States poorer and undermining our shared prosperity," she said, referring to the recent tariff threats by US President Donald Trump.

"We have no interest in picking a fight, but we will hold our ground. Europe has a slate of tools to protect its interests," she added.

The Arctic is emerging as a new frontier for geostrategic competition. As Arctic ice melts, Kallas warned, there is a growing risk that Russia and China will expand their presence in the region.

"If there are concerns about Greenland's security, NATO is well suited to address them," she said, pointing out that over the past week, several European countries have sent military personnel on a scoping mission to Greenland.

"This presence is aimed at keeping the region safe, predictable and stable, it poses threats to no one. Because the defense and protection of Greenland is a common concern for Europe and the entire NATO alliance," she added.

On Saturday, Trump said Washington would impose 10% tariffs on goods from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, and Finland from Feb. 1, rising to 25% in June until there is a deal for "the complete and total purchase of Greenland."

In response, European leaders rejected Trump's tariff threats against the eight European nations, and reiterated solidarity with Denmark.