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World Leaders Must Pay $1 Billion Each to Join Trump’s Gaza ‘Board of Peace’ permanently

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At least eight more countries say the United States has invited them to join President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace, a new body of world leaders meant to oversee next steps in Gaza that shows ambitions for a broader mandate in global affairs. Two of the countries, Hungary and Vietnam, said they have accepted.

A $1 billion contribution secures permanent membership on the Trump-led board instead of a three-year appointment, which has no contribution requirement, according to a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity about the charter, which hasn’t been made public. The official said the money raised would go to rebuilding Gaza.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has accepted an invitation to join the board, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó told state radio Sunday. Orbán is one of Trump’s most ardent supporters in Europe.

Vietnam’s Communist Party chief, To Lam, also has accepted, a foreign ministry statement said.

India has received an invitation, a senior government official with knowledge of the matter said, speaking on condition of anonymity as the information hadn’t been made public by authorities.

Australia has been invited and will talk it through with the U.S. “to properly understand what this means and what’s involved,” Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles told Australian Broadcasting Corp. on Monday.

Jordan, Greece, Cyprus and Pakistan said Sunday they had received invitations. Canada, Turkey, Egypt, Paraguay, Argentina and Albania have already said they were invited. It was not clear how many have been invited in all.

The U.S. is expected to announce its official list of members in the coming days, likely during the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland.

Those on the board will oversee next steps in Gaza as the ceasefire that took effect on Oct. 10 moves into its challenging second phase. It includes a new Palestinian committee in Gaza, the deployment of an international security force, disarmament of Hamas and reconstruction of the war-battered territory.

In letters sent Friday to world leaders inviting them to be “founding members,” Trump said the Board of Peace would “embark on a bold new approach to resolving global conflict.”

That could become a potential rival to the U.N. Security Council, the most powerful body of the global entity created in the wake of World War II. The 15-seat council has been blocked by U.S. vetoes from taking action to end the war in Gaza, while the U.N.’s clout has been diminished by major funding cuts by the Trump administration and other donors.

Trump’s invitation letters for the Board of Peace noted that the Security Council had endorsed the U.S. 20-point Gaza ceasefire plan, which includes the board’s creation. The letters were posted on social media by some invitees.

The White House last week also announced an executive committee of leaders who will carry out the Board of Peace’s vision, but Israel on Saturday objected that the committee “was not coordinated with Israel and is contrary to its policy,” without details. The statement by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office was rare criticism of its close ally in Washington.

The executive committee’s members include U.S. Secretary of State Rubio, Trump envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, World Bank President Ajay Banga and Trump’s deputy national security adviser Robert Gabriel, along with an Israeli business owner, billionaire Yakir Gabay.

Members also include representatives of ceasefire monitors Qatar, Egypt and Turkey. Turkey has a strained relationship with Israel but good relations with Hamas and could play an important role in persuading the group to yield power in Gaza and disarm.

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Boak reported from West Palm Beach, Florida. Associated Press writers Justin Spike in Budapest, Hungary, Rajesh Roy in New Delhi and Rod McGuirk in Canberra, Australia, contributed to this report.

Hannah Parkin, a 54.6 100 backstroker, commits to the University of Cincinnati’s Class of 2031

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Fitter and Faster Swim Camps is the proud sponsor of SwimSwam’s College Recruiting Channel and all commitment news. For many, swimming in college is a lifelong dream that is pursued with dedication and determination. Fitter and Faster is proud to honor these athletes and those who supported them on their journey.

Hannah Parkin has committed to swim at the University of Cincinnati for her collegiate career, beginning in the fall of 2027. She shared the news on Instagram, writing:

I am beyond thrilled to announce my verbal commitment to pursue my academic and athletic career at The University of Cincinnati! I would like to thank my spectacular parents, teammates, coaches, and everyone else who has supported me throughout my career. I would also like to thank God for the blessing of life, all He has provided for me all the success He has helped me achieve. Finally I would like to thank Coach Scott, Coach Mandy and all the other Cincinnati coaches and staff for this incredible opportunity. Go Bearcats!!

A junior at West Port High School in Ocala, Florida, Parkin has competed for her school’s varsity swimming and diving team since her freshman year. She also trains year-round with Florida Aquatics Swimming and Training, where she primarily specializes in sprint freestyle, backstroke, and butterfly.

Parkin owns best times of 23.74/51.14 in the 50/100 free, in addition to 54.66/55.94 in the 100 back and 100 fly. Her freestyle times are nearly two years old, set in March of 2024, while her bests in back and fly were set at the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) Class 4A State Championship in November.

At the state meet, Parkin finished as the runner-up in the 100 back (54.66) and seventh in the 100 fly (55.94), dropping over six-tenths in the former and one one-hundredth in the latter. She has made five ‘A’ finals in six career state championship swims. As a sophomore, she placed third in the 100 free, and as a freshman she finished seventh in the 100 free and 10th in the 50 free.

Parkin most recently competed at Winter Junior Championships East, where she placed 59th in the 100 back (55.89), 97th in the 100 fly (57.42), and 107th in the 100 free (52.16). It was her second year qualifying for the meet. She finished 62nd in the 100 fly, 68th in the 100 back, and 90th in the 100 free in 2024, making this her best showing to date.

Top SCY Times:

  • 50 Freestyle: 23.74
  • 100 Freestyle: 51.14
  • 100 Backstroke: 54.66
  • 100 Butterfly: 55.94

Cincinnati is led by head coach Mandy Commons-DiSalle, who is entering her 13th season at the helm of the program. The team placed sixth at the 2025 Women’s Big 12 Conference Championships, a drop from their 4th-place finish in 2024.

Parkin has the chance to make a significant impact, particularly in the 100 back. Her best time would have ranked 18th after prelims at last season’s conference meet, which would have put her in the upper end of the ‘C’ final. She’s about a half second off the 23.17/50.48 needed to score in the sprint freestyle events, while 55.09 was needed in the 100 fly.

She joins Peyton Brooks as the only other publicized commit in the Bearcats’ class of 2031. The duo should make strong training partners over their four years together, as Brooks swims the same events as Parkin and owns very similar best times of 23.63/53.25 in free, 54.83 in back, and 55.07 in fly.

The pair, along with 2026 recruits Lily Swope (23.84/51.51 free, 55.36 back, 55.18 fly), Alexis Schmidt (22.76/50.88 free, 56.23 back), Riley Miller (23.09/50.05 free, 56.62 back, 56.55 fly), MacCartney Mahler (54.88 fly), and Nicole Amike (23.08/50.94 free) will form the core of the sprint crew for the coming years.

If you have a commitment to report, please send an email with a photo (landscape, or horizontal, looks best) and a quote to [email protected].

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Hyundai’s Staria Smart Camper Van Concept for Europe

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Hyundai’s sleek, futuristic Staria van has been destined to make a cool, little camper van since it first emerged in 2021. And it didn’t take long for that to happen, at least not in South Korea. Now, a couple days after revealing the all-electric Staria, Hyundai is previewing what a Staria camper van might look like in the Western world. And despite not having the slide-out rooftop deck of some clever Korean campers, it looks quite good, especially coming directly from Hyundai. Is it convincing enough to take on the likes of the Volkswagen California and Ford Nugget?

Hyundai mentioned the prospect of a Staria camper during the MPV’s initial reveal, and it followed through about a year later with two different camper van configurations: a roomy premium four-seater with kitchen and an 11-seat passenger-moving sleeper van. Both models also included a pop-up sleeper roof for an additional two sleeping berths.

Unfortunately, those campers were developed solely for the Korean market and never made it farther west. We’ve been waiting for a third-party camper manufacturer or conversion shop to build out a Staria camper van for the European market ever since, but it seems Hyundai had to step in to get that done, four years later.

The Staria Camper Concept is Hyundai’s initial answer to an everyday MPV ready to journey out on longer road trips and camping adventures

Hyundai Europe

On Friday, Hyundai revealed a pair of Staria Camper Concepts at the ongoing 2026 CMT camper and travel show in Stuttgart, Germany. Reworked with the European market in mind, the concept duo loses the crowded 11-seat configuration and focuses in on the four-seater.

More than just a pair of fun show concepts, Hyundai is presenting the Staria camper van with the possibility of production in mind. The automaker says if it does give the Euro-market camper van the green light, the production version will be built on the all-new Staria Electric that made its world premiere at this month’s 2026 Brussels Motor Show. Hyundai believes such a production model could meet growing demand for vehicles that combine everyday usability with long-distance travel amenities while simultaneously sating Europe’s hunger for electric mobility.

The base electric Staria van will pair a 215-hp front-wheel-drive motor with an 84-kWh battery pack for up to 249 miles (400 km) of estimated driving range. That’s a decent figure for an electric camper, but we do hope Hyundai ultimately offers an ICE model or hybrid for those who don’t wish to be tethered to the charging grid. On the plus side, Hyundai’s 800-V DC fast-charging architecture would move e-RVing a little closer to ICE convenience with its estimated 20-minute charging (10 to 80%) speed.

The double bed laid completely flat
The double bed laid completely flat

Hyundai Europe

The Staria Camper Concept vans Hyundai has in Germany this week look unchanged from the four-seat Korean-market camper van it revealed in 2022. In fact, a number of the photos are identical. That isn’t a bad thing, as the design looks as fresh now is it did back then.

A four-seat layout wouldn’t be as much of a family hauler as some might prefer from the everyday side of their MPV, but it would work perfectly as a four-person camper van, providing two sleeping berths on the folded bed in the cabin and two in the electric pop-up roof.

The Staria Camper kitchen is located along the driver’s side wall holding a sink and top-loading fridge below a single lid that closes to create a long, continuous shelf/countertop in a glossy piano black. Presumably there’s some kind of a stove somewhere, too, perhaps a portable induction cooker to power off the Staria Electric’s battery.

A closer look at. the kitchen sink and top-loading fridge below the glossy black countertop
A closer look at. the kitchen sink and top-loading fridge below the glossy black countertop

Hyundai Europe

A pegboard-like wall panel over the rearmost section of worktop next to the kitchen provides flexible space for hanging cooking utensils, everyday accessories, and even houseplants and decor. A little farther back, the console doubles up in height, extending from the floor to the ceiling to store clothing, towels and other provisions. The drop-down cabinet face also works as a makeshift entertainment center, holding a tablet for easy viewing from bed.

Speaking of tablets, Hyundai hangs a color touchscreen near the B pillar to serve as a smart home-style control center. The unit offers fingertip control of the usual systems, including climate, pop-up roof and lighting and also works to switch the electrochromic rear glass from clear to dark for privacy and ambiance. Hyundai says the smart glass performs better at UV, thermal and acoustic insulation than regular rear automotive glass.

Hyundai includes a touchscreen smart RV system that adjusts various systems, including the electrochromic rear glass
Hyundai includes a touchscreen smart RV system that adjusts various systems, including the electrochromic rear glass

Hyundai Europe

The dining table is attached to the face of the kitchen block via a hinge so it can fold up during meals or games, supported by a single leg, and fold away to clear leg and elbow room for the drive. Hyundai also shows a second table in the trunk area that slides outside to create an outdoor dining area under the lifted tailgate. That table also appears ready to double as a luggage slide, allowing campers to pull it out for easier loading/unloading.

The slide-out load floor doubles as an outdoor table below the shade and light rain protection of the tailgate
The slide-out load floor doubles as an outdoor table below the shade and light rain protection of the tailgate

Hyundai Europe

Other features included on the Staria Camper Concept include 520 watts of solar charging, an outdoor shower, a shore power hookup, and a passenger-side Fiamma awning.

Hyundai plans to solicit feedback from CMT visitors to help guide its decision on whether to pursue a production Staria camper van and what form it will ultimately take. We’ll be tempted to file an emphatic “YES, please!!” but will hold back since we’re not a part of the European customer base Hyundai is targeting. We will, however, be taking a closer look and getting any additional information they’re willing to give, perhaps even a tentative base price range.

As for the (non-camper) Staria Electric van, Hyundai plans to launch the e-MPV in South Korea and Europe in the first half of 2026, expanding to additional markets sometime thereafter.

Source: Hyundai Europe

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At least 21 killed as two high-speed trains collide in Spain | Transport News

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Authorities have deployed mobile intensive care units to the crash site near Adamuz, where 25 people are injured.

At least 21 people have been killed after two high-speed trains collided in southern Spain, authorities say.

Spain’s ADIF rail body said in a post on X that a train travelling on Sunday from coastal Malaga to the capital, Madrid, derailed near Adamuz, crossing onto the other track. It crashed into an oncoming train, which also derailed.

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Spain’s Interior Ministry said that at least 21 people were confirmed dead. Andalusia’s emergency services had earlier said that 25 people were “seriously” injured. Five mobile intensive care units, four emergency critical care units and numerous ambulances were deployed to the site of the crash.

The on-site services were focused on stabilising the injured before transferring them to hospitals, Juanma Moreno, president of Andalusia’s regional government, wrote on social media late Sunday.

“Our solidarity and support to all those affected,” he added.

ADIF personnel were also coordinating with emergency services on the ground.

Trains travelling from the Andalusia region to Madrid have been suspended, with services from Cordoba, Sevilla, Malaga and Huelva expected to be unavailable through “at least” Monday, the rail body said.

Salvador Jimenez, a journalist for the state-run broadcaster RTVE, told the digital outlet Informacion that he had been on board the Malaga train.

The train’s last two carriages derailed, he said, with the final carriage turning fully onto its side as it landed on the tracks.

It felt like the train was experiencing an “earthquake” in the moments before the crash, Jimenez said.

EU rushes to prevent Trump’s proposed tariffs on Greenland, readies for potential retaliation

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EU scrambles to avert Trump Greenland tariffs, prepares retaliation

Danish Prime Minister asserts that Europe will not be blackmailed following Trump’s Greenland threats

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Reuters Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen speaks at a press conference Reuters

Mette Frederiksen and other European allies are standing in solidarity with Greenland, despite Trump’s threat of tariffs

Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen says “Europe won’t be blackmailed”, as she and other European leaders continue to weigh their response to US President Donald Trump’s tariff threats over Greenland.

Trump says he will impose new taxes on eight US allies – Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the UK – in February if they oppose his proposed takeover of the autonomous Danish territory.

He insists Greenland is critical for US security and has not ruled out taking it by force – a move that has drawn widespread criticism.

The countries threatened with tariffs have now issued joint statement, saying Trump’s plan risks a “dangerous downward spiral”.

“Tariff threats undermine transatlantic relations,” they said, reiterating that they “stand in full solidarity with the Kingdom of Denmark and the people of Greenland”.

The countries stressed they are “committed to strengthening Arctic security as a shared transatlantic interest” as members of the Nato military alliance.

“We stand ready to engage in a dialogue based on the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity that we stand firmly behind,” the statement reads.

Separately, Frederiksen wrote on Facebook: “We want to cooperate and we are not the ones seeking conflict. And I am happy for the consistent messages from the rest of the continent: Europe will not be blackmailed.”

“It is all the more important that we stand firm on the fundamental values that created the European community.”

Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he had had phone calls on Sunday with Frederiksen, as well as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Nato Secretary-General Mark Rutte, before speaking to Trump.

A spokeswoman for Starmer’s office said he had reiterated his position that Greenland’s security was a priority for all Nato members. “He also said that applying tariffs on allies for pursuing the collective security of Nato allies is wrong,” the spokeswoman added.

Trump has threatened to impose a 10% tariff on goods from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands and Finland, which would come into force on 1 February, but could later rise to 25% – and would last until a deal was reached.

“These Countries, who are playing this very dangerous game, have put a level of risk in play that is not tenable or sustainable,” he wrote, adding: “This is a very dangerous situation for the Safety, Security and Survival of our Planet”.

The US president insists Greenland is critical for US security and has said previously that Washington would get the territory “the easy way” or “the hard way”.

Greenland is a sparsely populated but resource-rich and its location between North America and the Arctic makes it well placed for early warning systems in the event of missile attacks and for monitoring vessels in the region.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Sunday told NBC News’ Meet the Press that “Greenland can only be defended if it is part of the US, and it will not need to be defended if it is part of the US”.

“I believe that the Europeans will understand that this is best for Greenland, best for Europe and best for the United States,” he said.

It is still unclear how the tariffs will affect those Trump has already imposed on the UK and EU. French President Emmanuel Macron, who is working to co-ordinate the European response to the tariff threats, said he would request that the EU activate its “anti-coercion instrument” if Trump does impose them.

The US president is due to speak at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on Wednesday on the theme “how can we co-operate in a more contested world?” Macron, as well as the leaders of Germany and the EU, will also be attending the annual conference.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who will also be there, said his country was “concerned by the recent escalation” and that it would be “significantly increasing Arctic security — strengthening our military and investing in critical infrastructure”.

“Canada strongly believes that the best way to secure the Arctic is by working together within Nato,” he also wrote on X.

Mark Rutte, meanwhile, said he had spoken to Trump “regarding the security situation in Greenland and the Arctic”.

“We will continue working on this, and I look forward to seeing him in Davos later this week,” he added.

EPA/Shutterstock People take part in a protest under the slogans 'Hands off Greenland' and 'Greenland for Greenlanders' in Copenhagen, Denmark, 17 January 2026.EPA/Shutterstock

Protests were held over the weekend in both Denmark and Greenland

Public anger in both Denmark and Greenland at Trump’s threats over Greenland appears undiminished. Demonstrations against Trump’s takeover plans were held in Greenland’s capital, Nuuk, on Saturday – before the tariff announcement – as well as in Danish cities.

These rallies coincide with a visit to Copenhagen by a delegation from the US Congress. Its leader, Democratic Senator Chris Coons, described Mr Trump’s rhetoric as “not constructive”.

The island’s representative to the US has said that the last time Greenlanders were asked if they wanted to be part of the US, in January 2025, only 6% were in favour of doing so, while 85% were against.

A recent poll suggests that most Americans also oppose US control of Greenland. A Reuters/Ipsos poll, which was released last Wednesday, indicated just 17% of Americans support the US taking Greenland, compared to 47% who said they opposed Trump’s push to acquire the island.

EU considers reviving €93 billion tariff move in response to Trump

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European Union member states are discussing several options for how to respond to President Donald Trump’s latest tariff threat, including imposing retaliatory levies on €93 billion ($108 billion) of US goods, according to people familiar with the talks.

EU ambassadors met Sunday evening in Brussels as they tried to devise a joint response to Trump’s announcement that he would put 10% tariffs on eight European countries on Feb. 1 in relation to their actions in Greenland.

Among the other options being discussed is using a powerful tool known as the anti-coercion instrument, added the people, who asked not to be identified discussing sensitive conversations. French President Emmanuel Macron suggested on Sunday the bloc should consider using that new tool, although France backed away from using it in the past after Trump threatened to retaliate.

Last year, the EU had approved retaliatory tariffs on €93 billion of US products but suspended their implementation after the two sides reached a trade pact. European lawmakers suggested over the weekend that they will hold off on approving that trade pact, citing Trump’s latest move. 

The Financial Times reported earlier on the discussions over reviving retaliatory tariffs.

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Trump’s announcement of new tariffs on Greenland: How are EU allies reacting? | Latest updates on Donald Trump

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United States President Donald Trump has promised to steadily increase tariffs on European countries that have opposed his move to acquire Greenland, escalating a dispute over the semiautonomous Danish territory he has long coveted.

So what is behind Trump’s push to control Greenland, the world’s largest island, and how have Washington’s NATO allies responded?

What is Trump’s tariff threat over Greenland?

In a post on his Truth Social platform on Saturday, Trump wrote that he has subsidised Denmark and other European Union countries by not charging them tariffs.

“Now, after Centuries, it is time for Denmark to give back – World Peace is at stake! China and Russia want Greenland, and there is not a thing that Denmark can do about it.”

Trump added that “the National Security of the United States, and the World at large, is at stake.”

Trump wrote that starting on February 1, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland will be charged a 10 percent tariff on all their exports to the US.

On June 1, the tariff is to be increased to 25 percent, he said. “This Tariff will be due and payable until such time as a Deal is reached for the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland,” Trump wrote.

Trump additionally wrote: “The United States has been trying to do this transaction for over 150 years. Many Presidents have tried, and for good reason, but Denmark has always refused.”

Is Trump the first US president to seek control of Greenland?

Leaders in Denmark and Greenland have consistently insisted that Greenland is not for sale. In the past few days, Greenlanders have been protesting against Trump’s wishes to acquire Greenland. Yet Trump has pushed for acquiring the Arctic territory since his first term, and he is not the first US president to pursue such a purchase.

After buying Alaska from Russia in 1867, then-Secretary of State William H Seward unsuccessfully sought to buy Greenland. During World War II, the US occupied Greenland after Germany’s invasion of Denmark and built military and radio facilities there. It maintains a permanent presence today at the Pituffik Space Base in the northwest.

In 1946, while Greenland was still a Danish colony, President Harry S Truman secretly offered Denmark $100m for the island, but Copenhagen refused. The proposal became public only in 1991.

American citizens do not support Washington acquiring Greenland, polls have indicated. This week, a Reuters/Ipsos poll of US residents showed less than one in five respondents support the idea of acquiring Greenland.

Why does Trump want Greenland?

The location and natural resources of the island make it strategically important for Washington.

Greenland is geographically part of North America, located between the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean. It is home to 56,000 residents, mostly Indigenous Inuit people.

Greenland’s capital, Nuuk, is closer to New York City – about 2,900km (1,800 miles) away – than the Danish capital, Copenhagen, located 3,500km (2,174 miles) to the east.

It is a NATO territory through Denmark and an EU-associated overseas territory with residents holding EU citizenship.

Its location offers the shortest air and sea routes between North America and Europe, making it strategically vital for US military operations and missile early-warning systems. Washington has also sought more radar coverage around the Greenland-Iceland-UK gap to monitor Russian and Chinese movements.

Greenland is rich in minerals, including most of the EU’s listed “critical raw materials”, but there is no oil and gas extraction, and many Indigenous residents oppose large-scale mining. The economy mainly depends on fishing.

As climate change opens up more of the Arctic, major powers such as the US, Canada, China and Russia are increasingly interested in its untapped resources.

How has Europe responded to Trump’s tariff threats?

All 27 members of the EU will convene for an emergency meeting on Sunday to discuss their response to Trump’s threat.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer responded in a post on X on Saturday, saying: “Our position on Greenland is very clear – it is part of the Kingdom of Denmark and its future is a matter for the Greenlanders and the Danes,” Starmer wrote.

“Applying tariffs on allies for pursuing the collective security of NATO allies is completely wrong. We will of course be pursuing this directly with the US administration.”

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also responded in an X post, saying: “The EU stands in full solidarity with Denmark and the people of Greenland. Dialogue remains essential, and we are committed to building on the process begun already last week between the Kingdom of Denmark and the US.

“Tariffs would undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral. Europe will remain united, coordinated, and committed to upholding its sovereignty.”

European Council President Antonio Costa shared a post identical to von der Leyen’s on his own X account.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas wrote on X: “China and Russia must be having a field day. They are the ones who benefit from divisions among Allies.”

Kallas added: “Tariffs risk making Europe and the United States poorer and undermine our shared prosperity.”

David van Weel, the foreign minister of the Netherlands, said during an interview on Dutch television on Sunday: “It’s blackmail what he’s doing, … and it’s not necessary. It doesn’t help the alliance [NATO], and it also doesn’t help Greenland.”