Trump escalates Greenland push with tariff threats on European allies
Former U.S. President Donald Trump has significantly escalated his long-standing push to gain control over the Arctic territory of Greenland by threatening steep import tariffs on multiple European countries that have opposed American acquisition of the semi-autonomous Danish island. Trump announced that from February 1, 2026, he will impose a 10 per cent tariff on goods imported into the United States from eight European nations Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland unless Denmark agrees to sell Greenland to the United States. The tariffs, which Trump framed as linked to “national security” concerns over Greenland’s strategic Arctic position, would rise to **25 per cent beginning June 1 if no deal is reached.
Trump made the announcement in a post on his social media platform, saying the tariffs would remain in place “until such time as a deal is reached for the complete and total purchase of Greenland.” His argument centres on the island’s geopolitical importance amid competition from other global powers, though Denmark and Greenland have firmly rejected U.S. efforts to sell the territory, emphasising their sovereign rights.
European leaders have rebuked the threat, warning that coercive tariffs against NATO allies jeopardise longstanding transatlantic relations and could lead to a “dangerous downward spiral” in diplomatic and economic ties. Officials from the European Union and individual governments have reiterated support for Denmark‘s sovereignty and stressed that Arctic security cooperation should continue within existing alliances rather than through forced territorial transfer.
The tariff threats have sparked protests in Greenland and Copenhagen, where residents and political leaders have decried the move as an attempt to undermine their right to self-determination. The dispute has drawn attention from lawmakers in the United States, with some bipartisan members of Congress voicing opposition to Trump’s strategy, underscoring the complexity and potential global impact of the unfolding crisis.
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