European countries warn of growing escalation

Berlin - The eight European countries targeted by US PresidentDonald Trump with new tariffs over their united stance against hisGreenland demands said the threats "undermine trans-Atlanticrelations and risk a dangerous downward spiral."

Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Swedenand the United Kingdom issued the statement on Sunday followingTrump's aggressive moves in his bid to take over the Arctic islandfor what he says are US security reasons.

But the European countries, all of whom are NATO members, said theyare "committed to strengthening Arctic security as a sharedtrans-Atlantic interest" and cited this weekend's Danish-led ArcticEndurance exercise in Greenland as responding to security needs.

The European nations - all of whom except for the UK and Norway aremembers of the European Union - reiterated their solidarity withDenmark and Greenland and said dialogue, not tariff threats, is theway to work out differences.

"Tariff threats undermine trans-Atlantic relations and risk adangerous downward spiral. We will continue to stand united andcoordinated in our response. We are committed to upholding oursovereignty," they said in the joint statement.