New Delhi. German and French finance ministers have unanimously claimed not to succumb to the American tariff threat. Both said on Monday that European countries will not be blackmailed and that threats to increase US tariffs on Greenland will be given a clear and united response with full force. The German Finance Minister met with his French counterpart in his office on Monday. During this, both of them said that the European powers will not fall victim to any blackmail and US President Donald Trump’s threats of higher tariffs regarding Greenland will be given a clear and united response.

Trump promised on Saturday to increase tariffs on eight European allies unless the US is allowed to buy Greenland. After this announcement by Trump, the controversy regarding the future of Denmark’s huge Arctic island has increased further. German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil said, “Germany and France are adamant that we will not allow ourselves to be blackmailed.”

At the same event, French Finance Minister Roland Lescure said, “Blackmail between allies of 250 years, blackmail between friends, is obviously unacceptable.” There is talk that EU leaders are going to discuss options at an emergency summit in Brussels on Thursday. One option is a package of tariffs on 93 billion euros ($107.7 billion) of US imports that could be implemented automatically on February 6 after a six-month suspension, according to Reuters.

“We Europeans have to say that this line has been crossed,” Kleinbiel said. “We have extended our hand for cooperation, but we are not prepared to be blackmailed.” Lescure said he hoped transatlantic relations would become “friendly and based on dialogue rather than one based on threats and blackmail.” Kleinbiel said he had no interest in escalating tensions because that would harm the economies on both sides of the Atlantic.

Let us tell you that Scott Besant, the American counterpart of Kleinbiel and Lescure, had said on Sunday that American control over Greenland is necessary for global stability and because of European “weakness”. To this Lescure said, “Our objective in the coming days, weeks, quarters and years is to politely but firmly convince Scott Besant that he is wrong.”