The Story Tariffs, Trump and Greenland: 'The end of the world as we know it'?
Jan 20, 2026
Oliver Moody, Berlin correspondent for The Times, dives into the geopolitical storm surrounding Trump's tariff threats over Greenland. He reveals how Europe's leaders are reacting—some seeing it as blackmail, while others debate countermeasures. Moody discusses Keir Starmer's pragmatic stance and the EU's potential responses, including an intriguing 'anti-coercion' tool. He also highlights the challenges of achieving consensus among EU states and how NATO's future could be impacted by this controversy.
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Europe Has Ready Countermeasures On The Shelf
- The EU already has a prepared list of specific counter-tariffs and measures from past trade disputes.
- Moody says Brussels could deploy that "top drawer" list quickly if political will exists.
Pinch Points Offer Tactical Leverage
- There are national "pinch points" Europe could exploit, like US reliance on German bases or Danish pharmaceutical supplies.
- Moody cautions political will to use such leverage appears limited.
Consensus Is Hard, Choices Will Follow
- Achieving EU consensus will be hard and leaders planned an emergency meeting to finalise a response.
- Moody warns divergence could force the UK and Norway to choose alignment with the EU or face isolation.