The Tánaiste will be discussing the threat of new tariffs by the US at a meeting of EU Finance Ministers on Monday, as Trump has insisted that a deal will be done over Greenland.
US President Donald Trump threatened to hit eight European countries with 10 per cent tariffs from February 1st because they oppose his plan to buy the Arctic nation.
On Monday, Trump said on social media that Denmark has been unable to do anything about the Russian threat to the territory, and now it is time for a deal.
“NATO has been telling Denmark, for 20 years, that “you have to get the Russian threat away from Greenland,” a Truth Social post said. “Unfortunately, Denmark has been unable to do anything about it. Now it is time, and it will be done!!!”
Speaking on Newstalk on Monday, Ireland South MEP Sean Kelly said efforts will be made to ease tensions, but EU Ministers will still make a stand: “They’re hoping to de-escalate the situation by having diplomatic moves behind the scenes to try and stop it.
“There is also, of course, clearly sending a message to Donald Trump that they cannot back down in this situation.
Simon Harris has said that the tariffs would be damaging to the EU economy, supply chains and open trade.
An economist has also warned that Ireland would experience the “mother of all recessions” if successful.
Speaking to the Sunday Independent, Dr Alan Ahearne said that the outcome would be worse than anything experienced in the last economic downturn.
“Stock markets would fall, credit markets would tighten up, just like in 2008. Borrowing and lending would freeze,” he said.
World
EU to hold emergency summit over Trump’s Greenland tariffs threat
On Sunday, an emergency meeting of EU ambassadors was called, with Ireland reiterating its solidarity with Denmark and the people of Greenland. European Council President Antonio Costa also said late on Sunday he had decided to convene an extraordinary summit of European Union leaders in the coming days to discuss the bloc’s response.
Also on Sunday, the Taoiseach told RTÉ that “the situation in Greenland is very clear from [Ireland’s] perspective, the territorial integrity, the sovereignty of Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark cannot be violated.”
Earlier, Minister for Foreign Affairs Helen McEntee said: “Ireland has been crystal clear that the future of Greenland is a matter to be determined by Denmark and by the Greenlandic people, in line with well-established democratic principles and international law.
“This is a position that will not change. Respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States is non-negotiable.”