Today marks the one-year anniversary of Donald Trump's inauguration, so we have three years left to go. The question for EU leaders is whether they can spend all of that time trying to keep Donald Trump happy, because all the evidence shows that this strategy is not working. For 12 months, leaders in Europe have fawned over Trump. No matter what outrage, insult or international incident he has provoked, the response from Europe has been the same: to avoid direct criticism, and even to heap praise and flattery on him to try to keep him on side. Now we see where it has gotten us. Trump is demanding that the United States acquires Greenland and is refusing to rule out using military force to do so.

It is clear we are through the looking glass when it comes to the Trump Administration. A long-standing trading partner is increasingly an aggressor. Trump says the United States needs Greenland because it is critical to US security, but Greenland is not mentioned once in his national security strategy published less than two months ago. What has changed since that strategy was issued is Trump's invasion of Venezuela and the kidnapping of Maduro. European leaders' lack of criticism of that flagrant breach of international law has clearly emboldened Trump. If he can invade one country and suffer no consequences, why not another?

I listened to the Taoiseach's interview on RTÉ on Sunday in which he said that the trade deal between the EU and the United States should be ratified. I do not know how that is a credible position when Trump is telling everyone he wants to rip up that deal and go even further by attacking the sovereignty of Greenland and Denmark. How can the EU ratify the deal in these circumstances? I agree with the Government that any escalating trade war would be hugely damaging, and it is clearly something we want to avoid, but we will not do that by bowing to Trump's bully tactics. What is needed now is for the EU to stand firm and, instead of rolling over for Trump, to adopt a strong united response that makes it clear that all options, including the use of retaliatory tariffs and the anti-coercion instrument, are on the table. At the moment, Trump is openly mocking the EU. He does not take it seriously. Last night he said that European leaders would not "push back too much" on his attempts to annex Greenland. He published a picture depicting Canada and Greenland as United States territory. None of this is normal, and it is time the response from the EU reflected that. Does the Taoiseach agree that the strategy of flattering Trump has backfired? Does he agree that the EU needs to stand strong in a unified response and that all options must be on the table?

First of all, the European Union will adopt and is adopting a principled, firm and robust stance in relation to the territorial integrity of Greenland, the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Denmark and adherence to the international rule of law and to the United Nations charter. There are very clear positions from the European Union.

Also, having already prepared various scenarios in respect of potential responses to any additional tariffs, we - Europe - have prepared significant packages, the clearest being the €93 billion of packages. There is no issue there other than that I think it would be better if this were resolved by dialogue. If the US wants to arbitrarily tear up an agreement or undermine an agreement it entered into, that is a matter for the US. Europe, however, should be very clear. We entered into an agreement. We want to honour agreements we have entered into. We are very conscious that a trade war between the US and Europe, being one of the largest trading relationships in the world, would have very damaging consequences for the US, Europe and the world, not just in terms of job losses, which would be significant, or decline in exports but also in terms of a read-across to the financial markets and the potential creation of real damage on that front, which would have a ripple effect on economy, society and jobs.

Language is cheap here. We have to be very clear-eyed about what is at stake, and it is very serious. It is a grave moment for the transatlantic relationship. Europe will be strong and unified, and the principle of European Union solidarity is absolutely key here. We have been working. Canada has been pivoting more to Europe in terms of trade and other areas, as others have. Diversification has been happening in respect of trade, hence my visits and those of other Ministers to Japan, China and other areas to make sure we diversify trade and we are not focused on just one given area. Let us be honest, however, that the US-Ireland economic relationship is critical. It is a very important relationship. There is no point in saying it is not; it is. We have to do everything we possibly can to protect it and the jobs that depend on it without compromising basic principles in terms of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of EU member states. That remains our position.

I do not accept the analysis that has been given in terms of Europe being just all about flattery. It has not been all about flattery. A year ago the situation pertaining to Ukraine was very dangerous. I would argue that European leaders successfully created a scenario where additional supports were maintained for Ukraine over what has been a very difficult year. These are very serious issues for people, not just for ourselves but for other countries like Ukraine as well.

I am in complete agreement that any trade war would be hugely damaging. We do not want one; the EU does not want one. It is Trump who is weaponising tariffs, threatening to renege on a trade deal that was agreed only a few months ago and refusing to rule out using force to annex Greenland. These are threats that nobody could have imagined until recently but they are now a grim reality. I recognise how difficult the situation is, but the strategy of EU leaders appeasing Trump has not worked. His belligerence and erratic behaviour are escalating. He has invited Putin, an indicted war criminal, to sit on the Board of Peace, which was supposed to be set up to oversee Gaza but now seems intended to undermine the UN. Then, last night, Trump posted a picture of Canada depicted as American territory. What are we supposed to take from that? Will Canada be next? Nobody really knows the answer to that question. That is the level of dangerous absurdity we are dealing with from the chaos merchant in the Oval Office. If this aggressive behaviour is not a red line for the EU, what will be?

As I said, the leaders of the European Union member states will convene next Thursday to consider the position we are now in. It is uncharted territory; there is no question about that. No one ever contemplated that Greenland would be under threat or that the friction between the US and Canada would be at this level, although when the leaders meet a different sort of vibe emanates from meetings between different leaders, including those of Canada and the US. There are profound shifts happening. From our perspective, the clear principles are solidarity with our fellow EU member states and a principled approach to international relations. Yes, we are committed to peace, but we are also committed to the United Nations, the United Nations Charter and international rules of engagement and to supporting Denmark and our colleagues across the EU in respect of any attempt to levy tariffs indiscriminately.