Updated by Faith Barbara N Ruhinda at 1638 EAT On Wednesday 21 January 2026

Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the former NATO Secretary-General and former Danish Prime Minister, says the era of appeasing President Trump “has ended,” and Europe can now expect a “firmer response.”

In an interview with the BBC, Rasmussen stated that if Trump moves forward with imposing additional tariffs on eight European countries, Europe should introduce retaliatory measures, as “Trump only respects force and strength.”

Rasmussen also warned that NATO could not survive if Trump were to follow through on his threat to take over Greenland.

“The time has come to stand up against Trump,” he added.

Air Force One, the U.S. presidential plane, has just landed at Zurich Airport, Switzerland, ahead of President Trump’s visit.

First on the agenda is a reception with business leaders, followed by a speech at the World Economic Forum later in the day.

We are awaiting the arrival of U.S. President Donald Trump in Switzerland, which is expected shortly.

Trump’s journey was delayed earlier after Air Force One was forced to return to a Maryland air base due to a “minor electrical issue.”

The EU-US trade deal, which has been in the works since July, has been suspended. A news conference from Bernd Lange, chair of the European Parliament’s international trade committee, is expected later today to provide further details.

Without parliamentary approval or another suspension from EU member states, tariffs on €93 billion worth of U.S. goods—ranging from livestock to aircraft parts to whiskey—will take effect next month.

This move will likely disappoint U.S. exporters who had hoped the deal would boost their sales in Europe.

With the U.S. mid-term elections approaching later this year, there may be pressure on President Trump to ease his use of tariffs. However, whether such efforts will succeed remains uncertain.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has warned that the UK “would never rule anything out” regarding retaliatory tariffs, in response to President Trump’s growing threats to impose tariffs over Greenland.

In an interview with the BBC at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Reeves emphasized that the UK would “not be buffeted around” and would always act in the national interest in its dealings with the U.S. This, she explained, involves “reducing trade barriers with countries around the world.”

The UK and U.S. reached a trade agreement in May 2025 following the imposition of global tariffs on “Liberation Day.” However, President Trump recently threatened to slap a 10% tariff on “any and all goods” imported from eight European nations—including the UK—if they oppose his proposed acquisition of Greenland.

French President Emmanuel Macron has suggested that the EU could explore a range of retaliatory options, but Reeves told the BBC she had received assurances from U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo that the “US-UK trade deal will remain intact.”

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stressed that “the main issue is not Greenland right now, the main issue is Ukraine,” during a panel discussion at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Rutte expressed concern that Europe’s focus on other global challenges might detract from the urgent need to support Ukraine. “I’m a little bit worried that we might drop the ball by focusing too much on other issues,” he said.

Despite significant casualties in December, Russia continues to escalate its attacks on Ukraine, Rutte pointed out.

He added that while recent progress in peace talks and the EU Commission’s €90 billion loan to Ukraine are encouraging, they should not lead European NATO members to think they can “afford to neglect Ukraine’s defense.”

“They need our support now, tomorrow, and the day after,” he said. “I need European allies to remain focused on this issue.”

– BBC

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