US President Donald Trump threatened multiple European countries with 10% tariff as he escalated his bid to take control of Greenland. The 47th POTUS said that starting February 1, eight European countries will face a 10% levy on goods sent to the US.
In a lengthy statement posted on social media, Trump accused Denmark and other European nations of benefiting for decades from US protection without adequate “remuneration” and framed the Greenland issue as a matter of global security. He said the US had “subsidised Denmark, and all of the countries of the European Union, and others, for many years by not charging them tariffs”, adding that “now, after centuries, it is time for Denmark to give back”.
Trump claimed that Greenland had become strategically vulnerable, asserting that “China and Russia want Greenland” and that Denmark was incapable of defending the territory. He said only the United States could guarantee its security, linking the island’s importance to US national defence and what he described as “world peace”.
According to the statement, countries named for the proposed tariffs include Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland. Trump said these nations had “journeyed to Greenland, for purposes unknown”, calling the situation “very dangerous for the safety, security, and survival of our planet”.
He said the tariffs would remain in place “until such time as a deal is reached for the complete and total purchase of Greenland”, adding that the US had sought to acquire the territory for more than 150 years but had been repeatedly rebuffed by Denmark.
Trump also tied the demand to US missile defence ambitions, referring to the “Golden Dome” and modern weapons systems. He said hundreds of billions of dollars were being spent on security programmes linked to the project, including potential protection for Canada, and argued that the system could operate at “maximum potential and efficiency” only if Greenland were included.
“The United States of America is immediately open to negotiation with Denmark and/or any of these countries,” Trump said, warning that strong measures were necessary to ensure the situation ended “quickly, and without question”.
Public pushback in Greenland
As Washington’s rhetoric sharpens, resistance is building on the ground in Greenland.
Earlier on Saturday, hundreds of people in Greenland’s capital Nuuk braved near-freezing temperatures, rain and icy streets to march in support of self-governance, rejecting any suggestion of an American takeover. Protesters waved Greenland’s red-and-white national flags, sang traditional songs and walked through Nuuk’s small downtown carrying placards reading “We shape our future,” “Greenland is not for sale” and “Greenland is already GREAT”.
Similar rallies were reported across the wider Kingdom of Denmark, underscoring unease within the Danish realm over renewed US claims on Greenland.
The demonstrations came just hours after a bipartisan US congressional delegation met officials in Copenhagen to reassure Denmark and Greenland of continued American support. The delegation was led by Chris Coons, who acknowledged that the current rhetoric around Greenland had caused anxiety across the Danish kingdom.
“I hope that the people of the Kingdom of Denmark do not abandon their faith in the American people,” Coons said, adding that the US respects Denmark and Nato “for all we’ve done together”. He said his aim was to de-escalate tensions at a moment when political statements from Washington were fuelling uncertainty in Greenland and among US allies in Europe.
Greenland for national security, insist Trump
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly argued that Washington should gain control of Greenland, the self-governing territory under Denmark, a Nato ally. Earlier this week, he said any outcome short of US control of the Arctic island would be “unacceptable.”
On Friday, while speaking at the White House during an event unrelated to foreign policy and focused on rural healthcare, Trump referred to past instances where he had warned European partners of possible tariffs on pharmaceutical imports.
Linking that approach to Greenland, Trump said, “I may do that for Greenland, too,” ahead of his targeted tariff announcement on Saturday. “I may put a tariff on countries if they don’t go along with Greenland, because we need Greenland for national security.”