Threats in Greenland distance the European far right from Trump

BerlinThe Donald Trump's threats against Greenland And the trade blackmail in countries that have opposed his expansionist plans has led to a distancing of the far right and European populists from the US president. Alternative for Germany (AfD), Marine Le Pen's National Rally, and Britain's Nigel Farage are among those who have demonstrated that Trump's attitude toward Europe is affecting the unity that the international far right had previously displayed.

The distancing between Trump and some far-right leaders has occurred despite the fact that the US president and his MAGA movement have supported many European populist and far-right parties in their election campaigns, legitimizing their xenophobic and extremist ideas. The White House occupant has sought in the past to divide the European Union by aligning himself with the far right, with whom he shares a rejection of immigrants and climate change denial. Many populist and far-right leaders were not pleased that Trump threatened to impose new tariffs on Denmark and seven other European countries for their opposition to his plan to acquire Greenland "by hook or by crook." Leaders of Alternative for Germany (AfD) criticized Trump's aggressive foreign policy. Tino Chrupalla, co-leader of AfD, rejected the US president's "Wild West methods." "Trump has broken a fundamental campaign promise: not to interfere in other states," denounced Alice Weidel, the other leader of the German far-right party, a few days ago. She equated the US actions in Venezuela with those of Russia in Ukraine. Weidel cited resource security as the reason for Trump's actions against Venezuela and Greenland. Jordan Bardella, president of the National Rally (RN) and Marine Le Pen's right-hand man, has also criticized Trump, warning that the Greenland conflict "goes far beyond a specific diplomatic disagreement." "It is a test of power and truth for Europe. The President of the United States is presenting the European Union with a clear choice: accept vassalage under the pretext of transatlantic partnerships or return to being sovereign actors capable of defending our interests," he lamented. "Our submission would be a historic mistake," Bardella warned, demanding a firm response from the European Union to Trump's threats. "When a US president openly threatens a European state, when he combines assumed territorial pressure with explicit commercial blackmail, it is not just a partner speaking out, it is a balance of power being imposed. And it is our credibility that is then put to the test," he added, noting that Greenland is entering into this imperial logic.

Fear of national sovereignty

"What's at stake today foreshadows tomorrow's conflicts. Giving in would set a dangerous precedent, one that would affect other European territories tomorrow and, perhaps the day after, the French overseas territories, which in turn could face similar pressure. When it comes to sovereignty, every concession leads to the next," the far-right politician warned.

Even more explicit was Danish MEP Anders Vistisen, who insisted that Greenland is part of Denmark and not for sale. "Let me put it in words you can understand. Mr. President, go to hell," this member of the Danish People's Party (DF), a right-wing nationalist and populist party, told Trump.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, one of the European leaders considered closest to Trump, called it a "mistake" and celebrated that Trump finally backed down from his threats.

"It's always difficult to know whether Trump is bluffing or not, but using economic threats against the country that has been considered his closest ally for 100 years is not the kind of thing we would expect," acknowledged Nigel Farage, leader of the British populist party Reform UK.

Silence from those closest to Trump

But not all far-right European leaders have been critical of Trump. Vox, which welcomed Trump's intervention in Venezuela to oust President Nicolás Maduro, has remained silent on Washington's threats to annex Greenland. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has also preferred to keep a low profile on this issue. Budapest considers the potential purchase of Greenland "a bilateral matter between the United States and Denmark" and believes the European Union as a whole should not interfere. Orbán hopes to have Trump's support in the upcoming elections. in the Hungarian parliamentary elections on April 12.