Trump vows tariffs on European nations over Greenland
US President Donald Trump has vowed to impose a series of increased tariffs on its European allies until the US is allowed to buy Greenland, escalating debate over the future of Denmark’s vast Arctic island.
In a post on the Truth Social platform, Trump said that additional import taxes of 10 percent on goods coming from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Finland and Great Britain will come into force as of February 1.
Trump wrote that these tariffs will increase to 25 percent on June 1 and will continue until an agreement is reached for the United States to purchase Greenland.
Trump has repeatedly said he would settle for nothing less than ownership of Greenland, an autonomous Danish region.
Both Denmark and Greenland leaders insisted that the island was not for sale and that they did not want to join the United States.
The president said Greenland was vital to the security of the United States due to its strategic location and large mineral deposits, and did not rule out using force to take it.
European countries sent military personnel to the island this week at Denmark’s request.
“By playing this very dangerous game, these countries have introduced a level of risk that is not defensible or sustainable,” Trump wrote.
“The United States is immediately open to negotiating with Denmark and/or any of these countries that have put so much at risk, despite everything we have done for them for decades, including maximum protection,” he said.
Countries named by Trump on Saturday backed Denmark and warned that a US military takeover of a NATO region could collapse the military alliance led by Washington.
“The President’s announcement is a surprise,” Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said in a statement.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was unusually blunt in condemning Trump’s threat, saying on social media platform X that his country would raise the issue directly with Washington.
“Imposing tariffs on allies to ensure the collective security of NATO allies is completely wrong,” Starmer said.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa said in separate but identical posts on X that the European Union was in “full solidarity” with Denmark and Greenland.
“Tariffs would undermine transatlantic relations and lead to a dangerous decline. Europe will remain united, coordinated and committed to preserving its sovereignty,” they said.
Officials from Norway, Sweden, France and Germany reiterated their support for Denmark on Saturday and said tariffs should not be part of the Greenland discussions.
Cyprus, which currently holds the EU presidency, said it had called for an urgent meeting of the ambassadors of the bloc’s 27 countries on Sunday.
Protesters in Denmark and Greenland demonstrated on Saturday against Trump’s demands and called for the region to be left to determine its own future.
Trump said the invasive presence of China and Russia makes Greenland vital to US security interests.
Danish and other European officials pointed out that Greenland is already covered by NATO’s collective security pact.
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