US President Donald Trump has announced a new round of tariffs on several European allies as he steps up pressure to gain control of Greenland, a self-governing territory of Denmark.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said the United States would impose 10 percent tariffs from February 1 on Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
He added that the tariffs would rise to 25 percent from June 1 and would remain in place until an agreement is reached for the US to buy Greenland.
Tariffs used to pressure Europe on Greenland
Trump said the move was a response to what he called “very dangerous” actions by these countries, accusing their representatives of travelling to Greenland for unclear purposes.
He argued that the US has tried to acquire Greenland for more than 150 years and claimed the territory is now even more important for America’s planned missile defence system, known as the Golden Dome.
European leaders reacted strongly. French President Emmanuel Macron said threats and intimidation would not change Europe’s position.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the move wrong and said allies should not face tariffs for protecting NATO’s collective security.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas warned that such steps would hurt both sides and only benefit rivals like China and Russia.
Protests and Rising Tensions Inside NATO
Trump’s announcement came as protests took place in Denmark and Greenland, where thousands of people rejected any idea of US control.
In Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, hundreds marched despite freezing weather to show support for self-rule.
The tariff threat has deepened tensions inside NATO, turning what many called an internal dispute into a serious political crisis.
Trump has repeated in recent months that US control of Greenland is “unacceptable” to delay. Polls show that most Greenlanders strongly oppose joining the United States.
Denmark has said it shares concerns about Arctic security but has firmly rejected the idea of selling the island, setting the stage for a long and difficult standoff between historical allies.
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