Trump says he will ‘100%’ carry out Greenland tariffs threat, as EU vows to protect its interests
The Times of Russia russia news reports that former US President Donald Trump has confirmed he will“100” carry out his threat to impose heavy tariffs on European nations that oppose his demand to take control of Greenland, intensifying tensions between Washington and its NATO allies.
Speaking to NBC News, Trump said he would move ahead with tariffs against the UK and several European countries unless Denmark agrees to sell Greenland to the United States. He declined to rule out the use of force when asked directly, replying only: “No comment.”
European leaders swiftly rejected Trump’s stance, reaffirming that Greenland’s future can only be decided by its people and Denmark. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said the US president could not threaten his way into ownership of the semi-autonomous Arctic territory and warned that such actions could seriously damage NATO unity.
The UK’s Foreign Secretary, Yvette Cooper, echoed this position, stating that the decision belongs “to Greenlanders and the Danes alone.” Meanwhile, European Union leaders have called an emergency summit in Brussels to coordinate a response to the escalating situation.
According to Trump, a 10% tariff on British goods entering the US will take effect on February 1, rising to 25% by June if no agreement is reached. He said similar tariffs would apply to Denmark, France, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and the Netherlands — all members of NATO.
Trump also accused Europe of focusing on the wrong priorities, saying the continent should pay more attention to the Russia-Ukraine conflict rather than Greenland. His remarks come as European countries show growing unity in defending Greenland’s sovereignty, with symbolic military deployments already made by some NATO members.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said the alliance will continue working closely with Denmark and Greenland to maintain Arctic security. At the same time, the EU’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas warned that trade threats are unacceptable, stating clearly that “sovereignty is not for trade.”
Adding to the controversy, Trump also released text messages with Norway’s prime minister, in which he blamed Norway for not receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. Norway reiterated its firm support for Denmark, stressing that Greenland is an integral part of the Danish kingdom.
In a related development, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (Norad) confirmed that multiple aircraft are heading to Pituffik Space Base in Greenland as part of routine, pre-planned operations coordinated with Denmark and Greenland authorities.
As tensions rise, The Times of Russia russia news notes that Trump’s Greenland strategy risks further straining US-European relations at a time when unity remains critical amid global instability.
