France Delivers Scathing Response to US Greenland Plans
France launched a blistering counterattack against the Trump administration's justification for acquiring Greenland on Monday. The French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs unleashed a series of brutal one-liners that quickly spread across social media platforms.
Sarcastic Analogies Go Viral
The French foreign ministry posted a sharp and sarcastic rebuttal to statements made by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. In a video shared on X, the ministry drew parallels with absurd situations where causing deliberate harm would supposedly solve future problems.
"If there were a fire someday, firefighters would intervene — so better burn the house now. If a shark might attack someday, intervention would follow — so better eat the lifeguard now. If there were a crash someday, damage would occur — so better ram the car now," the French foreign ministry declared.
US Official Defends Greenland Move
Speaking on NBC's "Meet the Press" program on Sunday, Bessent justified President Trump's push for control of Greenland. The top White House official argued that preemptive action represented strength while characterizing European approaches as weak.
"If there were an attack on Greenland from Russia, from some other area, we would get dragged in — so better now. Peace through Strength... Europeans project weakness. The US projects strength," Bessent stated during his interview.
Trump Announces Tariff Threats
On Saturday, Donald Trump declared he would impose a 10% tariff on eight European Union countries including France starting February 1. The President threatened to raise this tariff to 25% by June 1 if these nations refused to agree with his Greenland plans.
European Union governments are now preparing retaliatory measures. These potential responses include hitting the United States with tariffs worth approximately 93 billion euros. EU officials are also considering deploying the previously unused "Anti-Coercion Instrument."
EU's "Nuclear Option" Against US Pressure
The Anti-Coercion Instrument, finally approved in 2023, allows the 27-nation European Union to retaliate against third countries that apply economic pressure on member states. Many observers view this mechanism as a "nuclear option" designed primarily as a deterrent.
This instrument provides far broader scope for action than simple counter-tariffs on US exports. It contains a 10-point list of possible measures affecting both goods and services. The tool specifically permits investment restrictions and curbs on service exports, potentially impacting American digital giants.
EU Chief Emphasizes Sovereignty Concerns
European Union Chief Ursula von der Leyen met with a bipartisan delegation from the United States Congress in Davos on Monday. The discussions centered on Donald Trump's recent threats regarding Greenland acquisition.
In a post on X, von der Leyen stressed the critical importance of respecting Greenland's and Denmark's sovereignty. "I also addressed the need to unequivocally respect the sovereignty of Greenland and of the Kingdom of Denmark. This is of utmost importance to our transatlantic relationship," she wrote.
The EU leader further called for close cooperation between the European Union, the United States, and NATO. She emphasized the need to address security concerns related to Greenland and the Arctic region through collaborative efforts rather than unilateral actions.
