On Saturday, US President Donald Trump intensified his pursuit of Greenland, threatening several European countries with tariffs of up to 25% until he gains control of the Danish island.
Trump’s threats coincided with thousands of protestors opposing his desire to purchase the mineral-rich island at the Arctic’s entrance in Greenland’s capital.
In Copenhagen and other Danish cities, thousands more people staged protests.
Denmark, a fellow NATO member, and a number of other European nations that have sent troops to the large autonomous territory with a population of 57,000 in recent days were targeted by the US president.
If realized, Trump’s threats against Washington’s NATO partners would create unprecedented tension within the alliance.
From February 1, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Finland would be subject to a 10-percent tariff on all goods sent to the United States, Trump said on his Truth Social platform.
“On June 1st, 2026, the Tariff will be increased to 25%. This Tariff will be due and payable until such time as a Deal is reached for the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland,” he wrote.
“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.
“Therefore, it is imperative that, in order to protect Global Peace and Security, strong measures be taken so that this potentially perilous situation end quickly, and without question.”
Trump added that he was “immediately open to negotiation with Denmark and/or any of these Countries.”
Denmark called Trump’s announcement a “surprise,” British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said it was “completely wrong,” and French President Emmanuel Macron added: “Tariff threats are unacceptable and have no place in this context.”
“We won’t let ourselves be intimidated,” Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson told AFP, adding that the governments involved were working on a joint response.
In a statement, European Union leaders said the bloc “stands in full solidarity with Denmark and the people of Greenland.”
An extraordinary meeting of EU ambassadors has been called in Brussels for Sunday afternoon.
Greenlandic minister Naaja Nathanielsen on Saturday praised the reaction of European countries, saying she was “thankful and hopeful for diplomacy and allieship (sic) to prevail.”
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