Helsinki/London/Amsterdam, January 18 (ANI): European leaders on Sunday strongly pushed back against US President Donald Trump’s threats to impose tariffs on allied nations unless they agree to sell Greenland, stressing that disputes between allies must be resolved through dialogue, respect for sovereignty, and shared rules—not political or economic pressure.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb, expressing firm support for Denmark and Greenland, said that European countries stand united on the principles of territorial integrity and sovereignty. In a post on X, Stubb emphasised that cooperation—not coercion—must guide relations among allies.
“Finland proceeds from the principle that matters between allies are resolved through discussion and shared rules of the game, not by creating pressure,” Stubb said, adding that strengthening Arctic security together with allies remains a key priority for Finland. He also warned that potential US tariffs would harm transatlantic relations and risk triggering a damaging escalation.
“This is also the goal of the activity in Greenland led by Denmark and coordinated among the allies. European countries stand united. We support Denmark and Greenland. Dialogue with the United States continues. Tariffs would be detrimental to the transatlantic relationship and could lead to a harmful spiral,” he said.
Echoing similar concerns, United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer strongly condemned Trump’s tariff threats, calling them “completely wrong.” Reaffirming Britain’s position, Starmer said Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark and that its future must be decided solely by the Greenlanders and the Danish people.
“Our position on Greenland is very clear—it is part of the Kingdom of Denmark, and its future is a matter for the Greenlanders and the Danes,” Starmer said in a statement on X. He added that Arctic security is a collective concern for NATO and that allies must work together to address growing threats from Russia across the region.
“Applying tariffs on allies for pursuing the collective security of NATO allies is completely wrong. We will of course be pursuing this directly with the US administration,” the UK Prime Minister added.
Meanwhile, Netherlands Foreign Minister David van Weel said that military activities in Greenland are aimed solely at enhancing Arctic security. He confirmed that the Netherlands is coordinating closely with the European Commission and partner countries in response to Washington’s tariff threats.
“We have taken note of President Trump’s announcement on tariffs. Military efforts related to exercises in Greenland are intended to contribute to security in the Arctic region,” van Weel said in a post on X.
The strong reactions follow Trump’s statement on Saturday in which he threatened to impose tariffs on several European countries—including Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Finland—unless they agree to sell Greenland to the United States.
In his post, Trump cited national security concerns, pointing to growing Chinese and Russian interest in the Arctic. He warned that a 10 per cent tariff would be imposed on goods from the named countries starting February 1, 2026, escalating to 25 per cent from June 1, 2026, until what he described as a “complete and total purchase of Greenland” is agreed upon.
Trump has repeatedly argued that Greenland’s strategic location and mineral resources are vital to US security. However, the governments of Denmark and Greenland have firmly rejected any proposal to sell the semi-autonomous territory, emphasising Greenland’s right to self-determination.
In response to rising tensions, Denmark has increased its military presence in Greenland, while Germany, Sweden, France, Norway, the Netherlands, and Finland have deployed small numbers of personnel as part of coordinated Arctic security efforts. The controversy has also raised concerns among European leaders about the potential strain on NATO, with some warning that a US attempt to force control over Greenland could seriously undermine the alliance. (ANI)
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