In a dramatic escalation of his administration's pursuit of Greenland, former US President Donald Trump has threatened to impose sweeping tariffs on the United Kingdom and several key European allies. The move has been met with swift condemnation from leaders across the continent, who warn it risks severely undermining transatlantic relations.
Tariff Threat and European Condemnation
Trump declared he would impose an initial 10% tariff on all goods sent to the United States from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, and Finland, starting on 1 February. He stated this levy would then increase to a punitive 25% on 1 June.
In a lengthy post on his Truth Social platform, Trump explicitly linked the tariffs to his territorial ambitions, stating: "This Tariff will be due and payable until such time as a Deal is reached for the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland." Greenland is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark.
The response from European capitals was immediate and forceful. French President Emmanuel Macron labelled the threats "unacceptable" and stated they had "no place" in discussions between allies. "No intimidation or threats will influence us, whether in Ukraine, Greenland or anywhere else in the world," Macron asserted.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer also condemned the move, calling it "completely wrong." He reaffirmed the UK's position, stating: "Our position on Greenland is very clear – it is part of the Kingdom of Denmark and its future is a matter for the Greenlanders and the Danes."
Greenlandic Resistance and Wider Context
The tariff threats coincided with significant public opposition within Greenland itself. Thousands of Greenlanders marched in protest over the weekend, braving snow and ice to wave national flags and chant "Greenland is not for sale." The demonstrations underscored the local rejection of any potential American takeover.
Analysts suggest Trump's aggressive tariff strategy is a deliberate attempt to divide European unity and quash collective opposition to the Greenland proposition. The threat arrives amid other domestic controversies for the former President, including a failure to meet a key election promise to slash US energy bills, which have instead risen significantly.
Other key developments reported alongside this story include:
- Two protesters were blinded by "less-lethal" munitions fired by federal officers during an anti-ICE protest in Santa Ana, California.
- A man was acquitted by a jury in just 35 minutes over charges of aiming a laser at the presidential helicopter, Marine One, while it transported Trump.
- New dietary guidelines from US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., promoting animal-based proteins, have raised alarms among health experts.
The tariff announcement represents one of the most direct economic confrontations with European allies in recent memory, tying trade policy directly to a contentious geopolitical land grab. With European leaders standing firm and the people of Greenland voicing their defiance, the stage is set for a significant diplomatic clash.
