Fact Check: Is video warning EU would take over US military bases in Europe true?

WASHINGTON, DC: In the last few weeks, President Donald Trump has claimed that the United States is persistent in taking over Greenland. The decision has not been taken well by the opposition, as well as some other countries.

In mid-January, a clip went viral claiming that the European Union warned the US that if America tries to take Greenland, EU would take over US military bases in Europe. But is there any truth to this? Let us find below.

Claim: Video warns EU would take over US military bases in Europe

An X account shared a clip and captioned it, 'EU officials warns the US: If you take Greenland, we will take all US bases in Europe!' The same post was further shared by different X users.

Similarly, a Facebook user posted, claiming that Antonio Costa, the president of the European Council, had issued the warning. The post was later removed.

Interestingly, President Trump warned on Friday, January 15, that his administration could impose tariffs on countries that opposed US efforts to take control of Greenland, framing the move as necessary for national security.

Speaking during a White House roundtable on rural health care, Trump linked the potential use of tariffs to his broader trade strategy.

He said, "I may do that for Greenland, too. I may put a tariff on countries if they don’t go along with Greenland, because we need Greenland for national security."

The President, however, did not specify which countries could face tariffs, what products might be targeted, or what legal authority would be used to impose the measures.

Fact Check: The warning video was by an Austrian campaigner

The claims made in the online rumors are false, as the warning was made by an Austrian campaigner, Gunther Fehlinger-Jahn, and he did not say he was speaking on behalf of NATO or the EU, as claimed by social media posts.

A NATO official said in an email to an outlet on January 9 that Fehlinger-Jahn had no official ties with the organisation. The email read, "He is not a NATO employee. His views and opinions are his own and do not reflect those of the Alliance. Also, despite the title - ‘European Committee for NATO Enlargement’ - this is not a NATO committee or body."

Moreover, Austria’s foreign ministry also said that Fehlinger-Jahn had no role with the government nor its NATO mission, which manages Vienna’s relations with the alliance as a non-member.

Furthermore, Fehlinger-Jahn does not work for or speak on behalf of the European Council, the Council of the EU, the European Parliament, or the European Commission, officials at the institutions said in emails to the outlet.

Additionally, there are no credible news articles where Costa has warned the US that the EU would take over its European military bases if it invaded Greenland.