Intensive contacts have been ongoing at the highest level between the Nordic countries and the allies since the tariff announcement from the US President.
"Tariff threats undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral," the countries write in the statement that Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (M) shared on X.
The countries also write that the coordinated military exercise taking place in Greenland does not pose any threat and that they are ready for a "dialogue based on the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity."
Macron wants to act
French President Emmanuel Macron is going even further and is reportedly the first head of state or government to want to activate the EU's so-called "trade bazooka" if Trump makes good on the threat, Le Figaro reports, citing Macron's staff.
The so-called bazooka was developed in 2023 and requires a qualified majority of EU countries. It means that the Union can quickly deploy countermeasures to respond to external economic pressure.
Contact with industry
The EU will also coordinate a joint response, and a crisis meeting with the EU ambassadors of the 27 member states will start in Brussels at 5 p.m.
The meeting was called after Trump threatened to impose punitive tariffs of 10 percent on countries that have sent military personnel to Greenland. According to Trump, the tariffs will then be increased to 25 percent on June 1 if the US is not allowed to buy Greenland before then.
Immediately after the announcement, close contacts began between Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (M) and his Nordic colleagues. According to a government source, he has also been in contact with the opposition and with representatives of the export industry.
According to the source, Sweden's security advisor also had a meeting with representatives of allied countries in Europe on Saturday.
“No doormat”
Several voices within the EU are pressing for the not yet approved trade agreement between the EU and the US to be put on hold.
The EU is not a doormat for Donald Trump. To proceed at this stage would have been to give Trump a gift,” says MEP Karin Karlsbro (L), vice-chair of the trade committee and the Liberal Party group's lead negotiator for the trade agreement with the US.
She also believes that the EU should use its anti-coercive instrument.
"We have come to a point where it is time to go hard and use the so-called bazooka," she says.
Trump threatens tariffs against EU countries Denmark, Sweden, France, the Netherlands, Finland and Germany, as well as Norway and the United Kingdom. Here is the countries' full statement:
"As members of NATO, we are committed to strengthening security in the Arctic, which is a common transatlantic interest. The pre-coordinated Danish exercise "Arctic Endurance" conducted with the Allies responds to that necessity. It does not pose a threat to anyone.
We stand in full solidarity with the Kingdom of Denmark and the people of Greenland. Building on the process that began last week, we stand ready to engage in dialogue based on the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity that we uphold.
"Tariff threats undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral. We will continue to stand united and coordinated in our response. We are determined to uphold our sovereignty."
