US-Europe Tension Escalate as Trump Threatens Tariffs on Nations Opposing Annexation of Greenland
United States President Donald Trump has warned that his administration may impose trade tariffs on countries that refuse to support Washington’s controversial plan to take over Greenland, an autonomous territory under the sovereignty of NATO ally Denmark.
Speaking during a health roundtable at the White House on Friday, Trump said economic measures could be used as leverage to secure international backing for the proposed move.
“I may put a tariff on countries if they don’t go along with Greenland, because we need Greenland for national security,” Trump said. “I may do that.”
The president likened the potential sanctions to previous tariff threats he issued against France and Germany over the pricing of pharmaceutical products.
The remarks mark the latest escalation in Trump’s renewed campaign to acquire the mineral-rich Arctic island, a move he has previously suggested could be pursued through military means if diplomatic efforts fail.
Trump has argued that Greenland is strategically vital to U.S. national security, citing its location in the Arctic and the presence of critical minerals. He has also accused Greenland and Denmark of failing to adequately safeguard the territory against the growing influence of Russia and China.
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In response to Washington’s increasingly assertive stance, several European countries have publicly reaffirmed their support for Denmark and Greenland. This has included the deployment of European military personnel to the strategically significant region as a show of solidarity.
A bipartisan delegation from the United States Congress also arrived in Copenhagen on Friday to express formal backing for Denmark and Greenland, underscoring concerns within Washington over the diplomatic fallout of the president’s approach.
Earlier in the week, the foreign ministers of Denmark and Greenland held talks at the White House in an effort to ease tensions. However, both officials later acknowledged that they remained in “fundamental disagreement” with President Trump over the future of the territory.
Despite the impasse, the White House announced on Thursday that the United States, Denmark and Greenland had agreed to establish a joint working group. The group is expected to meet every two to three weeks to continue discussions on security, cooperation and the broader political implications surrounding Greenland.
The dispute has drawn widespread international attention, raising fresh questions about transatlantic relations, Arctic security and the use of economic pressure as a diplomatic tool in territorial negotiations.
By PRNigeria
