Trump’s Greenland Tariff Threat Sparks Fury Across Europe
European leaders blast Trump’s Greenland tariff threat as unacceptable, warning the move could damage NATO unity and ignite a wider trade war.
President Donald Trump has threatened to impose new tariffs on eight allied countries that oppose his proposal to acquire Greenland, a move condemned by European leaders.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the move "completely wrong," while French President Emmanuel Macron described it as "unacceptable."
The comments came as Trump announced that a 10% tariff would be imposed on goods from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, and Finland starting February 1st, but that this could later rise to 25% – and would remain in place until a deal is reached.
Mr. Trump says the autonomous Danish territory is crucial to US security and has not ruled out the possibility of seizing it by force.
Meanwhile, thousands of people in Greenland and Denmark took to the streets on Saturday to protest the proposed US acquisition.
Greenland has a small population but is rich in resources, and its location between North America and the Arctic makes it ideal for early warning systems in the event of missile attacks and for monitoring shipping in the region.
Trump had previously said that Washington would acquire the territory "the easy way" or "the hard way."
European countries have backed Denmark, arguing that the security of the Arctic region should be a joint NATO responsibility.
France, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Finland, the Netherlands, and the UK have sent small numbers of troops to Greenland under what they call reconnaissance missions.
Announcing the new tariffs in a post on his Truth Social platform on Saturday, Trump said the countries were playing "a very dangerous game." He added that "the security, safety, and existence of our planet" were at stake. He said the proposed 10% tariff on goods exported to the US next month would increase to 25% in June and "remain in effect until an agreement is reached for the complete and total purchase of Greenland."
In his response, Starmer said: "Imposing tariffs on allies who are working for the collective security of NATO allies is completely wrong. We will certainly be raising this matter directly with the US administration."
France's Emmanuel Macron said: "Threats of tariffs in this context are unacceptable... We will not be swayed by any threats." Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said: "We will not allow ourselves to be blackmailed."
He added, "Sweden is currently engaged in intensive discussions with other EU countries, Norway, and the United Kingdom to find a joint response."
European Council President Antonio Costa said: "The European Union will always be very strong in defending international law... which of course begins within the territory of the European Union member states."
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Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said the threat "came as a surprise."
Meanwhile, the head of the conservative EPP group in the European Parliament, German MEP Manfred Weber, said Trump's move calls into question the EU-US trade deal struck last year, which is yet to be ratified.
Brussels and Washington had agreed on a deal that included a 15% US tariff on all EU goods and stipulated that the 27-member bloc would open its markets to US exporters with 0% tariffs on certain products.
Weber posted on X: "The EPP is in favor of the EU-US trade deal, but given Donald Trump's threats regarding Greenland, ratification is not possible at this stage." He added, "The 0% tariffs on US products should be suspended." However, US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz said that Denmark "doesn't have the resources or the capacity to do what needs to be done in the northern region."
He told Fox News that the lives of the people of Greenland "would be safer, stronger, and more prosperous under the umbrella of the United States."
Trump has often said that "tariffs" are his favorite word, and he has made it clear that he views them as a blunt instrument to persuade – or coerce – countries around the world to change their policies to suit the White House's desired outcomes.
But his announcement is a significant step in his recently renewed effort to acquire Greenland, even as he denies it.
It's unclear why the tariff announcement was made so abruptly, a move Trump first hinted at on Friday while speaking to reporters at the White House.
While he has repeatedly stated in recent weeks that a range of options – including the potential use of military force – remain on the table, the announcement came just days after US and Danish officials agreed to establish a high-level working group to discuss the island's future.
In Washington diplomatic and political circles, that announcement was seen by many as the "best-case" scenario for Denmark and its European allies – a move that would at least delay any White House decision or further escalation of tensions.
Instead, the new tariffs have injected a new sense of urgency into the issue and strained relations with key NATO allies and trading partners.
Opinion polls show that 85% of Greenlanders oppose the territory becoming part of the United States.
Before the tariff announcement, protests against Trump's acquisition plans took place on Saturday in Danish cities as well as in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland.
In Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, protesters displayed signs reading "Stay away from Greenland" and "Greenland is for Greenlanders."
Camilla Seizing, head of Inuit, an umbrella group of Greenlandic organizations, said, "We demand respect for the Danish kingdom and Greenland's right to self-determination."
In Nuuk, Greenland's Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen joined protesters carrying signs that read "Greenland is not for sale" and "We create our own future" as they marched toward the U.S. embassy.
These rallies coincided with a visit to Copenhagen by a delegation from the U.S. Congress. Its leader, Democratic Senator Chris Coons, described Mr. Trump's rhetoric as "not constructive."
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