United States President Donald Trump has vowed to steadily raise tariffs on European countries that oppose his move to annex Greenland, escalating the dispute over the semi-autonomous Danish territory he has long coveted.
So, what’s behind Trump’s push for control of Greenland, the world’s largest island, and how have Washington’s NATO allies responded?
What is Trump’s tariff threat on Greenland?
In a post on his Truth social platform on Saturday, Trump wrote that he has subsidized Denmark and other European Union countries without charging tariffs.
“Now, centuries later, it’s time to give Denmark back – world peace is at stake! China and Russia want Greenland, and Denmark can’t do anything about it.”
Trump added that “the national security of the United States and the entire world is at risk.”
Starting February 1, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland will face a 10 percent tariff on all their exports to the United States, Trump wrote.
These rates are to be increased to 25 percent on June 1, he said. “This tariff will remain due and payable until an agreement is reached for the full and total purchase of Greenland,” Trump wrote.
Trump added: “The United States has been trying to do this deal for over 150 years. Many presidents have tried, and for good reason, but Denmark has always refused.”
Is Trump the first US president to take control of Greenland?
Leaders in Denmark and Greenland have consistently insisted that Greenland is not for sale. Greenlanders have been protesting against Trump’s desire to annex Greenland for the past few days. Yet Trump has sought to acquire Arctic territory since his first term, and is not the first US president to pursue such purchases.
After buying Alaska from Russia in 1867, then-Secretary of State William H. Seward tried unsuccessfully to buy Greenland. During World War II, the United States occupied Greenland after Germany invaded Denmark and set up military and radio facilities there. Today it maintains a permanent presence at the Pitufic Space Base in the northwest.
In 1946, while Greenland was still a Danish colony, President Harry S. Truman secretly offered Denmark $100 million for the island, but Copenhagen refused. This proposal became public only in 1991.
American citizens do not support Washington’s annexation of Greenland, poll suggests. This week, a Reuters/Ipsos survey of US residents showed Less than one in five respondents Support the idea of acquiring Greenland.
Why does Trump want Greenland?
The island’s location and natural resources make it strategically important to Washington.
Greenland is geographically part of North America, located between the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean. It is home to 56,000 residents, mostly Indigenous Inuit people.
Greenland’s capital, Nuuk, is closer to New York City – about 2,900km (1,800 miles) away – than the Danish capital, Copenhagen, located 3,500km (2,174 miles) to the east.
It is a NATO territory from Denmark and an EU-associated foreign territory with EU citizenship.
Its location provides the shortest air and sea routes between North America and Europe, making it strategically important for US military operations and missile early-warning systems. Washington has also called for more radar coverage around the Greenland-Iceland-UK gap to monitor Russian and Chinese movements.
Greenland is rich in minerals, including those listed as “critical raw materials” by the European Union, but there is no oil and gas extraction, and many local residents oppose large-scale mining. The economy is mainly dependent on fishing.
As climate change opens up more of the Arctic, major powers such as the US, Canada, China and Russia are interested in its untapped resources.
How has Europe responded to Trump’s tariff threats?
All 27 members of the European Union will convene an emergency meeting on Sunday to discuss their response to Trump’s threat.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starr responded in a post on X on Saturday, saying: “Our position on Greenland is very clear – it is part of the Kingdom of Denmark and its future belongs to Greenlanders and Danes,” Starmer wrote.
“It is absolutely wrong to impose tariffs on allies to pursue the collective security of NATO allies. We will, of course, follow up directly with the US administration.”
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also responded in an ex-post: “The EU stands in full solidarity with Denmark and the people of Greenland. Dialogue is essential and we are committed to promoting the process between Denmark and the US that started last week between the Kingdom and the US.
“Tariffs will weaken transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral. Europe remains united, coordinated and committed to preserving its sovereignty.”
European Council President Antonio Costa shared a post similar to von der Leyen’s on his own X account.
The EU’s foreign policy chief Kaja Callas wrote on X: “China and Russia must have a field day. They are the ones benefiting from the division between the Allies.”
Callas added: “Tariffs risk making Europe and the United States poorer, and our shared prosperity less.”
Dutch Foreign Minister David van Weel said during an interview on Dutch television on Sunday: “What he’s doing is blackmail, … and it’s not necessary. It doesn’t help the alliance (NATO) and it doesn’t help Greenland either.”