Trump threatens Europe with tariffs over Greenland

US President Donald Trump on Saturday escalated his quest to acquire Greenland threatening multiple European nations with tariffs of up to 25 per cent until he achieves his goal of controlling the Danish territoryTrumps threats came as thousands of people protested in the capital of Greenland against his wish to acquire the mineralrich island at the gateway to the ArcticThousands more protested in Copenhagen and other Danish citiesThe US president aimed his ire at Denmark a fellow NATO member as well as several other European countries that have deployed troops in recent days to the vast autonomous territory with a population of 57000If realized Trumps threats against Washingtons NATO partners would create unprecedented tension within the allianceFrom February 1 Denmark Norway Sweden France Germany the United Kingdom the Netherlands and Finland would be subject to a 10percent tariff on all goods sent to the United States Trump said on his Truth Social platformOn June 1st 2026 the Tariff will be increased to 25 per cent This Tariff will be due and payable until such time as a Deal is reached for the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland he wroteThese Countries who are playing this very dangerous game have put a level of risk in play that is not tenable or sustainable Trump saidTherefore it is imperative that in order to protect Global Peace and Security strong measures be taken so that this potentially perilous situation end quickly and without questionTrump added that he was immediately open to negotiation with Denmark andor any of these CountriesDenmark called Trumps announcement a surprise British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said it was completely wrong and French President Emmanuel Macron addedTariff threats are unacceptable and have no place in this contextWe wont let ourselves be intimidated Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson told AFP adding that the governments involved were working on a joint responseIn a statement European Union leaders said the bloc stands in full solidarity with Denmark and the people of GreenlandAn extraordinary meeting of EU ambassadors has been called in Brussels for Sunday afternoonGreenlandic minister Naaja Nathanielsen on Saturday praised the reaction of European countries saying she was thankful and hopeful for diplomacy and allieship sic to prevailMake America Go AwayIn Nuuk thousands of people including the territorys prime minister JensFrederik Nielsen waved Greenlandic flags chanted slogans and sang traditional Inuit songs under light rainMany wore caps with the words Make America Go Away a riff on Trumps Make America Great Again sloganWe dont want Trump invading Greenland that is the message 44yearold nurse Paarniq Larsen Strum said at the Nuuk rally calling the situation nervewrackingWe demand respect for our countrys right to selfdetermination and for us as a people added protest organizer Avijaja RosingOlsenIn Copenhagen charity worker Kirsten Hjoernholm 52 said it was important to show unity with GreenlandersYou cannot be bullied by an ally Its about international law she saidAround her demonstrators waved the flags of Denmark and Greenland while chanting Kalaallit Nunaat the vast Arctic islands name in GreenlandicSome also held placards saying USA already has too much ICE referring to Trumps deployment of federal immigration officers in US cities while others chanted Greenland is not for saleUS security claimsTrump has repeatedly claimed that the United States needs Greenland for US national security while alleging without evidence that China and Russia are trying to control itThose two countries have increased their security presence in the Arctic but have not made any claims over its sovereigntyFrance said the European military exercise in Greenland was designed to show the world that it will defend the territoryDenmark said the US had been invited to join the drillIt was not immediately clear what authority the US president would invoke to impose the threatened tariffs of up to 25 percentSince returning to the presidency Trump has unleashed sweeping tariffs on goods from virtually all trading partners to address what Washington says are unfair trade practices and as a tool to press governmentsWashington and the European Union struck a deal last summer to lower US tariffs on key European goods with the deal currently being implementedAlso on Saturday US lawmakers were wrapping up a visit to Copenhagen for talks with Greenlandic and Danish politiciansThe group led by Democratic Senator Chris Coons told reporters that Trumps stance was not backed by the majority of AmericansIt is also roundly rejected by Greenlanders 85 percent of whom according to the latest poll published in January 2025 oppose the territory joining the United States Only six percent were in favor