Divide and conquer
In some ways, the divide-and-conquer approach seems already to be working.
Trump has threatened NATO ally Denmark with sanctions unless Copenhagen gives in to his demands on Greenland, which haven’t been precisely spelled out. Rather than seek a strong, coordinated response from leaders via the EU, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has asked her colleagues to stand down out of concern that their comments could further inflame the situation, said two EU diplomats. They, like others quoted in the piece, were granted anonymity to speak candidly about the transatlantic rapport.
“From what we can see, they [Trump’s administration] want to deal with us bilaterally,” said a third EU diplomat. “Given the interest to go on the bilateral track, we will need to show unity.”
Trump’s team hasn’t spelled out any particular approach to the EU, but its actions are telling.
The president didn’t invite any of the bloc’s top representatives — European Commission President von der Leyen, top diplomat Kallas or European Council President António Costa — to his inauguration on Jan. 20, instead opting to invite Italy’s hard-right prime minister, Giorgia Meloni.
His conversation with an EU leader since he took office, with Danish Prime Minister Frederiksen, was reportedly “very bad,” with Trump threatening sanctions unless Copenhagen gives in to his demands on Greenland.