Washington DC [US] / Brussels [Belgium] / Paris [France] – US President Donald Trump on Saturday escalated tensions with European nations by threatening to impose tariffs unless Denmark agrees to sell Greenland to the United States. In a post on Truth Social, Trump framed the move as a national security necessity, citing growing Chinese and Russian interest in the Arctic territory.
Trump warned that, beginning February 1, 2026, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Finland would face a 10% tariff on all goods sent to the US, rising to 25% on June 1, 2026, if a deal was not reached. “Starting on February 1st, 2026, all of the above-mentioned countries will be charged a 10% tariff… On June 1st, the tariff will be increased to 25%. This tariff will be due and payable until such time as a deal is reached for the complete and total purchase of Greenland,” Trump stated, adding, “It is time for Denmark to give back.”
Trump argued that Greenland’s strategic location and mineral resources are critical to US national security and global stability. He also criticized European military exercises in Greenland, calling them a “very dangerous situation for the safety, security, and survival of our planet.”
The announcement immediately impacted the EU-US trade relationship. The European Union confirmed a pause in the ratification of the July 2025 US-EU trade deal, which aimed to reduce tariffs on US imports to the EU to zero. Siegfried Muresan, Vice-President of the European People’s Party, noted that Trump’s tariff threat undermines the stability the trade deal was intended to provide, justifying the delay.
European countries have responded with military solidarity. Germany, Sweden, France, Norway, the Netherlands, and Finland have deployed small contingents of troops to Greenland, while Denmark has increased its own military presence. Concerns are growing over NATO’s cohesion, with some leaders warning that a US attempt to seize Greenland could threaten the alliance’s stability.
French President Emmanuel Macron strongly condemned Trump’s threats, calling them “unacceptable” and pledging a coordinated European response. “No intimidation or threat will influence us—neither in Ukraine, nor in Greenland, nor anywhere else in the world,” Macron stated on X, emphasizing France’s commitment to the sovereignty and independence of nations. He further highlighted France’s participation in NATO exercises in Greenland as part of its commitment to Arctic security.
Protests have also erupted in Denmark and Greenland, where public opposition to the sale is overwhelming; recent polls indicate that 85% of Greenlanders reject Trump’s offer. Danish and Greenlandic leaders have reaffirmed their right to self-determination, rejecting US acquisition plans.
The Trump administration has maintained that Greenland is a long-standing US interest, citing historical attempts to purchase the territory and asserting that modern strategic systems, including missile defense programs, depend on Greenland’s inclusion. Negotiations remain open, but Trump has made clear that tariffs will escalate unless a deal is reached.
The situation has injected fresh uncertainty into US-European relations, trade agreements, and Arctic security, as the world watches a potential geopolitical showdown unfold in one of the planet’s most strategic regions. (ANI)
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