President Donald Trump has withdrawn tariffs and declared that the U.S. will not forcibly annex Greenland, easing tensions over the Greenland situation. However, the European Union (EU) remains skeptical of the U.S., according to a Wall Street Journal (WSJ) report on January 22.
For now, the Greenland crisis has subsided following Trump’s U-turn. The U.S. stock market has rallied for two consecutive days.
Despite this, European leaders are bracing for potential future shocks, stating they can no longer trust the U.S.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić commented that as the post-World War II international order crumbles, it might witness even more significant events in the coming months. He added that the relationship between Europe and the U.S. won’t recover quickly.
Vučić explained that the wounds are too deep.
Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide also remarked that an ally attempted to attack an ally, noting that this incident will leave lasting trauma for Europeans.
He predicted that this event could catalyze Europe’s efforts to reduce its dependence on the U.S.
European leaders are expected to focus on decreasing their economic, technological, and military reliance on the U.S. They recognize that exposure to American-developed software, payment systems, and communication platforms poses a serious national security threat in the event of future conflicts.
Going forward, Europeans are likely to prioritize risk mitigation strategies and alternatives to U.S. dependence.
John Herbst, a former U.S. diplomat and current senior director of the Eurasia Center at the Atlantic Council, expressed concern that this mindset is spreading widely among European countries. He warned that it raises fundamental questions about U.S. global leadership, as reported by the WSJ.