Trump announces escalating tariffs on European nations until US buys island
Updated ,first published
Washington: In a major escalation of his long-running attempts to seize the Arctic region from Denmark, US President Donald Trump announced that he will increase tariffs on eight European countries until Greenland is sold to the US.
In his 434-word social media post, Trump said that as of February 1, a 10 percent customs duty will be applied to all goods sent to the USA from Denmark, England, France, Germany, the Netherlands and the Scandinavian countries Norway, Sweden and Finland.
The tariff will increase to 25 percent on June 1 and will be payable by the United States until an agreement is reached on the “whole and total acquisition of Greenland.”
Trump’s threat calls for two weeks of negotiations before additional tariffs begin, one of his favorite time periods when trying to win concessions from other countries.
The US president was aggrieved that several European countries – the eight he singled out for new tariffs – sent a small number of troops to Greenland last week in solidarity and to launch a larger permanent military presence on the world’s largest non-continental island.
Europe’s effort, which includes joint military exercises, is called Operation Arctic Endurance. French President Emmanuel Macron has promised to send more land, air and sea assets to Greenland in the coming days.
“This is a very dangerous situation for the Safety, Security and Survival of our Planet,” Trump said about the moves. “These countries that are playing this very dangerous game have introduced a level of risk that is not tenable or sustainable.”
Saying that he stood behind his decision to participate in the operation, Macron called Trump’s latest tariff threat unacceptable and promised that Europe would respond in a united manner.
“When we face such situations, no intimidation or threat will affect us, neither in Ukraine, nor in Greenland, nor anywhere else in the world,” Macron said.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Greenland is part of Denmark and its future is a matter for Greenlanders and Danes.
“We have also made clear that the security of the Arctic is important for all of NATO and that our allies must collectively do more to counter the Russian threat from different parts of the Arctic,” Starmer said.
“Imposing tariffs on allies in order to ensure the collective security of NATO allies is completely wrong. Of course, we will pursue this directly with the US administration.”
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson also rejected Trump’s pressure. “We won’t let them blackmail us,” he shared on X. “Only Denmark and Greenland decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland.”
The European Union called an emergency meeting of its national ambassadors to decide on an action plan. He said he stood behind Denmark and Greenland.
Trump’s statement came days later Tense meeting in Washington US Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the foreign ministers of Denmark and Greenland. Trump did not attend.
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen, a former prime minister, emerged from the “candid but constructive” discussion and said it would be “completely unacceptable” for the United States to disrespect Denmark’s territorial integrity or the right of the Greenlandic people to self-determination.
Rasmussen said the parties agreed to form a working group to break the impasse, but the “fundamental disagreement” remained.
Conservative Danish politician Rasmus Jarlov, chairman of the Parliament’s Defense, Resilience and Preparedness Committee, said this in response to Trump’s latest threat that Denmark will never surrender Greenland.
“Every insult, threat, tariff and lie we receive strengthens our determination,” Jarlov said in his statement to X. “We pray that our true allies will be with us, because we will need it.”
According to a survey last year, 85 percent of Greenlanders Opposed joining the United States. Although the country’s population is approximately 56,000, its northern gateway to North America and its rich stocks of critical minerals make the country strategically important.
Thousands of protesters marched in Copenhagen and Greenland’s capital Nuuk on Saturday to reject Trump’s attempts to take over the region.
They chanted “Greenland is not for sale” in Copenhagen and carried slogans such as “No means No” and “Withdraw from Greenland” alongside the region’s red-and-white flag as they marched to the US embassy.
One protester carried a sign that read “Yankee go home,” while some participants wore red, Make America Great Again-style hats that instead read “Take America Away.”
In Nuuk, crowds led by Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen chanted “Kalaallit Nunaat”, the Greenlandic name for the island, as they marched towards the US consulate, carrying flags and similar banners.
“I came here today because I thought it was important to show that Greenland is not for sale,” Officer Naja Holm said. Reuters. “This is not a toy. This is our home.”
The United States has made many attempts to purchase Greenland since the 19th century. Trump talked about it in his first term, but in his second term, especially since Christmas, he’s made it a bigger priority.
He claimed on Sunday (AEDT) that the US had “subsidised” Denmark and Europe by not imposing tariffs for decades and that it was now time for Denmark to “give back”.
“World Peace is in danger!” he wrote. “China and Russia want Greenland and there is nothing Denmark can do about it. They currently have two dog sleds as guards, one recently added. Only the United States under PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP can play this game and be very successful at it!”
Trump said the United States is open to negotiations with Denmark and the rest of Europe. The need for the United States to take Greenland is particularly important because of its “Golden Dome” plans, he said, referring to the proposed missile defense system that could include Canada.
Retired Republican senator Thom Tillis, who was among many US lawmakers who met with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in Copenhagen this week, said Trump’s response to European military exercises in Greenland was damaging the NATO alliance.
“This is great for Putin, Xi and other enemies who want to see NATO divided,” he said on X.
“For a small handful of ‘advisers’ to actively push for coercive action to seize an ally’s territory is beyond stupid.”
Michael Koziol is the North America correspondent for The Age and the Sydney Morning Herald. He is a former Sydney editor, Sun-Herald deputy editor and a federal political correspondent in Canberra.Connect with: excitement or email.
