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Greenland: the EU must prepare sanctions to “deter” Trump, says the Austrian vice-chancellor

by AI | 07.Jan 2026 | Europe in brief AI

The president of the Austrian Social Democratic Party (SPÖ) and the country’s vice-chancellor, Andreas Babler, believes that the European Union should draw up a “catalogue” of measures to deter any American attempt to annex Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark.

Andreas Babler, leader of the Social Democratic Party (SPÖ), main candidate of the campaign (now vice-chancellor), and his wife Karin Blum (right) greet their supporters during an election rally in Vienna on September 28, 2024, on the eve of the Austrian legislative elections. (Photo: Alex HALADA/AFP)

Vienna – The Austrian Vice-Chancellor, Andreas Babler, is proposing to prepare a threat of “severe” sanctions against American tech giants and “punitive” customs duties on agricultural products from certain U.S. states, in a statement.

“The restriction of American investments in areas relating to our critical infrastructure must also appear on a deterrent list,” emphasized Mr. Babler, vice-president of the Party of European Socialists (PES).

“Europe must stop presenting itself as smaller than it is” and “use its considerable economic weight vis-à-vis the United States,” added the elected official, who assures the Danish Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, also a member of the PES, of his solidarity.

The United States says it is studying “several options,” including military ones, to “take possession” of Greenland.

Europeans are preparing to “retaliate” against all forms of intimidation from the United States, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said on Wednesday. (January 7, 2026)