Nearly 30 European Leaders Held Secret Brussels Summit to Cut U.S. Reliance as Trump Threatened Greenland
Updated
Updated · The Daily Beast · Jul 6
Nearly 30 European Leaders Held Secret Brussels Summit to Cut U.S. Reliance as Trump Threatened Greenland
3 articles · Updated · The Daily Beast · Jul 6
Summary
Almost 30 European leaders met secretly in Brussels in January, surrendering phones and arriving alone to discuss how to reduce dependence on the U.S. under Trump’s second term.
Trump’s tariff reversals and hostile rhetoric had already shaken allies, but his suggestion that he might take Greenland by force triggered the emergency gathering, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Emmanuel Macron told the room there was no “going back,” while Belgian and Danish leaders voiced alarm; participants later likened the session to “group therapy.”
Intelligence agencies were also rattled: one southern European assessment described dealing with “a single volatile individual,” and MI6 reportedly warned Keir Starmer to tread carefully with CIA counterparts.
By a March follow-up meeting, Trump’s strikes on Iran had lifted European fuel prices and even Italy’s Giorgia Meloni called him “not reasonable,” though the White House said he had strengthened NATO ahead of this week’s summit in Turkey.
As Europe seeks tech sovereignty, could a digital iron curtain rise between the continent and the United States?
Beyond Greenland, where could America's 'Donroe Doctrine' next challenge the sovereignty of traditional allies?
Greenland Crisis 2026: Trump’s Threats, EU’s Response, and the Future of Transatlantic Relations
Overview
In January 2026, transatlantic tensions rose sharply as the Trump administration renewed its push for a new arrangement over Greenland, reaching a secretive framework deal with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte that hinted at possible US military bases on the island. This aggressive move was widely seen as a direct threat to European sovereignty and the stability of transatlantic diplomacy. In response, the European Union acted quickly and decisively: on January 18, President Ursula von der Leyen publicly affirmed the EU’s unity and solidarity with Greenland and Denmark, declaring a firm stance against any threats to their sovereignty.