Trump Threatens Tariffs on European Allies Over Greenland Dispute
NUUK, Greenland — President Donald Trump announced Saturday that the United States will impose a 10% tariff on imports from eight European countries beginning in February, citing their opposition to U.S. control of Greenland. The tariff would rise to 25% on June 1 if no agreement is reached for what Trump described as the “complete and total purchase of Greenland” by the United States.
The countries targeted are Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Finland. Trump made the announcement in a post on his Truth Social platform, framing the tariffs as retaliation for diplomatic visits to Greenland and ongoing resistance to U.S. ambitions for the Arctic territory.
The move marks a sharp escalation in tensions between the U.S. and its NATO allies, further straining a military alliance that has existed since 1949. Trump has repeatedly used trade penalties as leverage in foreign policy disputes, a strategy that has previously triggered both concessions and backlash from allies and rivals alike.
It remains unclear under what legal authority Trump could impose the tariffs, though he could attempt to invoke emergency economic powers—an approach currently under review by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Trump has argued that Greenland is strategically vital to U.S. national security, claiming it is essential to the proposed “Golden Dome” missile defense system and warning that Russia and China could seek influence over the island. Denmark, which governs Greenland as a semiautonomous territory, has firmly rejected those claims.
Opposition to Trump’s proposal has grown across Europe. Earlier Saturday, hundreds of Greenlanders marched through the capital city of Nuuk in near-freezing conditions, calling for self-determination and rejecting any sale of their homeland. Protesters waved Greenland’s red-and-white flags and carried signs reading “Greenland is not for sale” and “We shape our future.”
Similar demonstrations took place across Denmark, including large rallies in Copenhagen where thousands gathered under slogans such as “Hands Off Greenland” and “Greenland for Greenlanders.”
The protests came just hours after a bipartisan U.S. congressional delegation met with Danish officials in Copenhagen in an effort to ease tensions. Senator Chris Coons of Delaware said the rhetoric surrounding Greenland was alarming allies and stressed the need to de-escalate.
“I hope the people of Denmark do not lose faith in the American people,” Coons said, emphasizing the long-standing alliance between the two nations.https://youtube.com/shorts/7MvqwYBOrFw?feature=shared
Danish military leaders have also sought to downplay fears of conflict. Maj. Gen. Søren Andersen, head of Denmark’s Joint Arctic Command, said there is no expectation that the U.S. would use force against a NATO ally. He confirmed that European troops have recently arrived in Greenland for Arctic defense training, describing the deployments as routine alliance cooperation rather than a political signal.
Despite Trump’s claims, Andersen said he has not observed any Russian or Chinese warships operating near Greenland during his tenure. He added that Danish law requires soldiers to defend national territory if attacked, though he stressed such a scenario is highly unlikely.
European leaders have reiterated that decisions about Greenland’s future rest solely with Denmark and Greenland. Denmark has announced plans to strengthen its military presence on the island in coordination with NATO partners.
Trump has maintained for months that U.S. ownership of Greenland is necessary and said this week that anything short of American control would be “unacceptable.” During a recent White House event, he also suggested tariffs could be used as leverage, comparing the strategy to past threats against European pharmaceutical exports.
Earlier this week, officials from Denmark and Greenland met in Washington with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. While talks failed to resolve the dispute, both sides agreed to form a working group—though they later offered sharply different interpretations of its purpose.
“There is almost no better ally to the United States than Denmark,” Coons said. “If our actions cause allies to question our reliability, it undermines trust across the entire NATO alliance.”
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