President Donald Trump on Jan. 17 announced tariffs against eight European countries as the latest pressure tactic for the United States to purchase Greenland.
In a Truth Social post, Trump said Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland will have a 10% tariff on all goods sent to the United States effective Feb. 1. The tariff is set to increase to 25% on June 1, Trump said.
“These Countries, who are playing this very dangerous game, have put a level of risk in play that is not tenable or sustainable,” Trump said.
Ambassadors from the European Union’s 27 countries will convene on Jan. 18 for an emergency meeting after Trump vowed the wave of increasing tariffs. Cyprus, which holds the six-month rotating EU presidency, said late on Jan. 17 that it had called the meeting.
Europe: Trump threatens tariffs to force support for US control of Greenland
Trump has repeatedly said Greenland is vital to American security due to its strategic location and large mineral deposits. He hasn’t ruled out using force to take the Arctic island, which is an autonomous territory of Denmark.
European countries recently sent military personnel to Greenland at the request of Danish officials. Top European officials have backed Denmark, warning the Trump administration’s attempts to seize Greenland can upend the NATO, the 76-year-old alliance created for member nations to jointly defend each other.
“The United States of America is immediately open to negotiation with Denmark and/or any of these Countries that have put so much at risk, despite all that we have done for them, including maximum protection, over so many decades,” Trump said.
On the same day as Trump’s announcement, people in Denmark protested Trump’s threats to take control of Greenland, as well as the right of its predominantly Indigenous residents to have self-determination.
Reuters reported demonstrators led chants of «Greenland is not for sale» while holding banners and signs saying «Hands off Greenland» alongside Greenland’s red and white flag. The crowd had gathered in Copenhagen’s City Hall Square before marching to the American embassy.European leaders rebuked Trump’s announcement while reaffirming support for Denmark and Greenland.
«Applying tariffs on allies for pursuing the collective security of NATO allies is completely wrong,» United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in an X post. «We will of course be pursuing this directly with the US administration.»
Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, defended the pre-coordinated military exercise with Denmark, saying it responded to the need to strengthen Arctic security and didn’t pose any threats.
«Tariffs would undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral,» von der Leyen said on social media. «Europe will remain united, coordinated, and committed to upholding its sovereignty.»
A day earlier, a bipartisan group of American lawmakers traveled to Copenhagen to meet with leaders from Denmark and Greenland. In an X post, Sen. Chris Coons, D-Delaware, said the meeting reaffirmed «Congress’ commitment to one of our oldest, strongest NATO allies.»
«In an increasingly unstable world in which our adversaries are cooperating, our alliances are more important than ever,» Coons said.