Germany's far-right AfD wants Greenland talks to avert US 'trade war'

Europe must engage in talks with the United States to "avert a trade war" over Greenland, the co-leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) said on Monday.

In a post on X, Alice Weidel said "the goal must now be talks" to find a solution to the dispute with US President Donald Trump, who has threatened to impose tariffs on European countries in his effort to take the Arctic island from Denmark.

The German government should put Germany's interests first instead of embarrassing itself with military excursions, Weidel said, in reference to Berlin's participation in a Danish-led mission to Greenland in recent days.

The AfD, Germany's largest opposition force, is divided over how to respond to Washington's aggressive stance.

The anti-immigrant party has sought close ties with Trump's Republican Party, but has faced difficult questions since his return to power, with the US administration's strategic shifts on foreign policy and tariffs having clashed with German interests.

Weidel's colleague Tino Chrupalla on Sunday criticized Trump's "imperial policy," insisting that Europe must defend its security.

But the party's controversial lawmaker Maximilian Krah said the AfD should "avoid any conflict with Trump at all costs."

Jean-Pascal Hohm, head of the party's youth wing, retorted on X that "anyone who believes that Greenland should be handed over to the Americans out of fear of a trade war ... is not a German or European patriot, but merely views our homeland as an appendage or plaything of the major powers."