President Donald Trump on Saturday announced plans to impose a 10 per cent tariff on imports from eight European countries, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland, citing their opposition to American control of Greenland.
Trump warned that the levy would rise to 25 per cent on June 1 if the United States does not secure a “Complete and Total purchase of Greenland.” He said the tariffs were in response to recent visits to Greenland by officials from Britain, the Netherlands and Finland, and “general opposition” to his efforts to acquire the semiautonomous Danish territory.
The Republican president has repeatedly used trade penalties to influence allies and rivals, provoking both commitments and pushback. It remains unclear whether US law allows the tariffs, though Trump could invoke economic emergency powers currently under Supreme Court review.
Greenland, Trump has argued, is vital to the US missile defence “Golden Dome” system, and he has cited potential Chinese and Russian interest in the Arctic island. European nations, however, have increasingly resisted his ambitions.
Meanwhile, hundreds of Greenlanders braved near-freezing temperatures in Nuuk to rally for self-governance, waving red-and-white national flags and carrying signs reading “We shape our future” and “Greenland is not for sale.” Similar demonstrations were held across the Danish kingdom.
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A bipartisan US congressional delegation in Copenhagen sought to calm tensions. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) said the rhetoric was causing concern and stressed US respect for Denmark and NATO.
Danish Major General Søren Andersen, head of the Joint Arctic Command, said European troops were recently deployed to Nuuk for Arctic defence training, not to signal Washington. “I would never expect a NATO country to attack another NATO country,” he said, noting no Chinese or Russian warships had been observed near Greenland.
Thousands also marched in Copenhagen, carrying Greenlandic flags and protesting Trump’s claims. Danish demonstrator Elise Riechie said, “This is important for the whole world. There are many small countries. None of them are for sale.”
Earlier this week, Danish and Greenlandic foreign ministers met US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington, leading to the formation of a working group. European leaders have maintained that the island’s fate rests with Denmark and Greenland, while Denmark has increased its military presence in cooperation with allies.
Coons warned, “If we do things that cause Danes to question whether we can be counted on as a NATO ally, why would any other country seek to be our ally or believe in our representations?”
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