PALM BEACH, United States: US President Donald Trump on Saturday escalated his quest to acquire Greenland, threatening multiple European nations with tariffs of up to 25 percent until his purchase of the Danish territory is achieved.
Trump aimed his ire at Denmark, a fellow NATO member, as well as several European countries that have deployed troops in recent days to the vast, mineral-rich territory at the gateway to the Arctic with a population of 57,000.
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 in a post on his Truth Social network.
“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.”
It was not immediately clear what authority the US President would invoke to impose the threatened tariffs of up to 25 percent.
European countries’ troops in Greenland
Since returning to the presidency, Trump has unleashed sweeping tariffs on goods from virtually all trading partners to address what Washington says are unfair trade practices and as a tool to press governments on US concerns.
Most UK goods are already subject to a ten percent baseline tariff, while some goods have a higher rate – British steel, aluminium and passenger vehicles are currently subject to a 25 percent tariff.
The announcement marks a new blow for Prime Minister Keir Starmer who, along with European allies, has this week sought to reassure Greenlanders amid Trump’s comments.
Several European countries this week announced the deployment of small numbers of troops to Greenland in response to Trump’s recent comments on the island.
Trump claims the United States needs Greenland and has criticised Denmark for, he says, not doing enough to ensure its security.
US holds talks with Greenland and Denmark
He has insisted for months that the US should control the semiautonomous territory of Denmark, and said earlier this week that anything less than the Arctic island being in US hands would be ‘unacceptable’.
A congressional delegation arrived for talks in Copenhagen on Friday, aimed at shoring up support for America’s NATO ally.
The 11 congressmen and women were to hold talks with Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen and her Greenlandic counterpart Jens-Frederik Nielsen.
“We are showing bipartisan solidarity with the people of this country and with Greenland. They’ve been our friends and allies for decades,” Democratic Senator Dick Durbin told reporters.
The delegation’s visit follows a meeting in Washington on Wednesday at which Danish representatives said they are in ‘fundamental disagreement’ with Trump over Greenland.
Today, hundreds of people in Greenland’s capital braved near-freezing temperatures to march in a rally in support of their own self-governance in the face of threats of a US takeover.
The Greenlanders waved their red-and-white national flags and listened to traditional songs as they walked through Nuuk’s small city centre on Saturday.
Some carried signs with messages like ‘We shape our future’, ‘Greenland is not for sale’ and ‘Greenland is already GREAT’.
They were joined by thousands of others in rallies across Denmark.
