President Donald Trump’s renewed push to buy Greenland has ignited a fierce standoff with European allies, as he announced Saturday a new 10% tariff on all goods from Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. The tariffs, set to take effect on February 1, 2026, could ratchet up to 25% by June if no deal is reached for the United States’ “Complete and Total purchase of Greenland,” according to Trump.
The president’s announcement came after several European nations sent small contingents of troops to Greenland for joint NATO exercises—an action Trump called “provocative.” European leaders immediately hit back. In a rare united front, the eight targeted countries released a joint statement on Sunday warning that “tariff threats undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral.” The EU has called an emergency meeting for 16:00 London time to coordinate a response.
European Allies Reject ‘Coercion’ Over Greenland
Denmark, which oversees Greenland, was blindsided by Trump’s demand. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said the tariffs were a “surprise” after what he described as a “constructive meeting” with U.S. officials. “Only Denmark and Greenland decide on issues concerning Denmark and Greenland,” Rasmussen insisted.
Other European leaders used even sharper language. French President Emmanuel Macron said, “No intimidation nor threat will influence us,” and called the tariffs “unacceptable.” Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, known for her generally warm ties with Trump, described the move as “a mistake.” Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson bluntly declared, “We will not let ourselves be blackmailed.”
U.S. Lawmakers and Markets React
Back home, Trump’s plan provoked a split reaction. Senator Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) backed the president, calling Greenland “vital for the national security interests of the United States” and suggesting acquisition would be a strategic win. But Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) criticized the tariffs as “unnecessary, punitive, and a profound mistake,” warning they would hurt both American businesses and relationships with key allies.
Meanwhile, thousands of Greenlanders took to the streets of Nuuk, waving flags and protesting any potential U.S. annexation. With tensions rising and the EU signaling it may freeze a recently negotiated U.S.-EU trade deal, the coming weeks promise more diplomatic sparring—unless both sides find a way to cool down the Arctic chill.
