Trump's Greenland Tariffs Threat Sparks International Tensions

Tue Jan 20 2026 04:57:05 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a bold declaration, Donald Trump reaffirmed his intention to impose tariffs on European countries opposing his claims over Greenland, igniting a diplomatic backlash from European allies.

Donald Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on goods from European nations that stand against his pursuit of control over Greenland. Denmark and other countries have rallied to support Greenland's sovereignty, firmly rejecting Trump's aggressive stance. Meanwhile, European leaders prepare to respond to the escalating diplomatic confrontation, emphasizing respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty.

Donald Trump has vowed to 100% follow through on his threat to impose tariffs on European countries who oppose his demand to take control of Greenland.

European allies have rallied around Greenland's sovereignty. Denmark's foreign minister emphasized the US president cannot threaten his way to ownership of the semi-autonomous Danish territory.

UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper reiterated the UK's position that the future of Greenland is for Greenlanders and for the Danes alone to decide.

On Monday, Trump declined to rule out the use of force and insisted he would press ahead with the threatened tariffs on goods arriving in the US from the UK and seven other NATO allied countries.

Asked by NBC News if he would use force to seize Greenland, Trump answered: No comment.

The US president said he would charge Britain a 10% tariff on any and all goods sent to the US from 1 February, increasing to 25% from 1 June, until a deal is reached for Washington to purchase Greenland from Denmark.

Trump said the same would apply to Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Finland - all of whom are members of the defense alliance NATO founded in 1949.

Asked if he will follow through on the tariff threat, Mr Trump told NBC News: I will, 100%.

Trump added: Europe ought to focus on the war with Russia and Ukraine because, frankly, you see what that's gotten them... That's what Europe should focus on - not Greenland.

Denmark has warned that US military action in Greenland would spell the end of NATO. In recent days, Greenland has received support from European members of the alliance - some even sent a handful of troops to Greenland last week as a symbolic gesture.

However, Trump followed that deployment with an announcement to impose tariffs on the eight NATO allies.

Danish foreign minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen stated that Europe must show President Trump that tariff threats are not the way forward. He emphasized that ownership cannot be threatened.

NATO secretary general Mark Rutte confirmed the alliance's commitment to working with Denmark and Greenland on arctic security.

The European Union is set to convene an emergency summit in Brussels to discuss the ramifications of Trump's threats to take over Greenland.

Kaja Kallas, the EU's foreign policy chief, voiced that the bloc has no interest to pick a fight, but we will hold our ground. Kallas firmly stated that trade threats are not the way to go about this; sovereignty is not for trade.

As tensions brew, Trump's controversial approach raises questions about the future of European-North American relations and global geopolitical stability.