Henri AstierAnd
Bernd Debusmann Jr,White House reporter
President Donald Trump’s threat to impose new tariffs on eight allies opposed to his plan to take control of Greenland has drawn condemnation from European leaders.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the decision was “completely wrong”, while French President Emmanuel Macron called it “unacceptable”.
The comments come after Trump announced that a 10% tariff on goods from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland would take effect on February 1, but could then rise to 25% – and would remain in effect until a deal is reached.
Mr Trump insists that the autonomous Danish territory is essential for US security and does not rule out taking it by force.
Meanwhile, thousands of people took to the streets in Greenland and Denmark on Saturday to protest the proposed US takeover.
Greenland is sparsely populated but rich in resources and its location between North America and the Arctic makes it well placed for early warning systems for missile attacks and for monitoring ships in the region.
Trump has previously said Washington would get the territory “the easy way” or “the hard way.”
European countries have rallied to support Denmark. They argued that the security of the Arctic region should be a joint responsibility of NATO.
France, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Finland, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom sent a small number of troops to Greenland as part of a so-called reconnaissance mission.
Announcing the new tariffs in a post on his Truth Social platform on Saturday, Trump said these countries were playing “a very dangerous game.” At stake, he said, was “the safety, security and survival of our planet.”
He said next month’s proposed 10% levy on goods exported to the United States would increase to 25% in June and would remain “payable until an agreement is reached for the complete and total purchase of Greenland.”
In his response, Starmer said: “Applying tariffs to allies to ensure the collective security of NATO allies is completely wrong. We will of course continue this approach directly with the American administration. »
Emmanuel Macron said: “Tariff threats are unacceptable in this context… We will not allow ourselves to be influenced by any intimidation.”
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said: “We will not allow ourselves to be blackmailed. »
“Sweden is currently holding intensive discussions with other EU countries, Norway and the United Kingdom to find a common response,” he added.
European Council President Antonio Costa said: “The European Union will always be very firm in defending international law… which of course begins on the territory of the Member States of the European Union.”
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said the threat was “a surprise.”
Separately, German MEP Manfred Weber, head of the conservative EPP group in the European Parliament, said Trump’s decision raised questions about the yet-to-be-ratified EU-US trade deal negotiated last year.
Brussels and Washington reached a deal that would see a 15% U.S. tariff on all EU products and under which the 27-member bloc would open its markets to U.S. exporters with 0% tariffs on some products.
“The EPP is in favor of the EU-US trade deal, but given Donald Trump’s threats regarding Greenland, its approval is not possible at this stage,” Weber said on X. “The 0% tariffs on US products must be suspended,” he added.
US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz, however, said Denmark “simply does not have the resources or the capacity to do what needs to be done in the northern region.”
He told Fox News that the lives of Greenlanders would be “safer, stronger and more prosperous under the leadership of the United States.”
Trump often thought “tariff” was his favorite word, and he made it clear that he viewed it as a blunt instrument for convincing — or coercing — countries around the world to align their policies with the outcomes the White House desired.
But his announcement represents a significant escalation in his recently revived drive to acquire Greenland, despite their opposition.
It’s unclear what immediately prompted the tariff announcement, which Trump first alluded to during a speech to reporters at the White House on Friday.
While in recent weeks he has repeatedly said a variety of options — including the potential use of military force — remain on the table, the announcement comes just days after U.S. and Danish officials agreed to create a high-level working group to discuss the island’s future.
In Washington diplomatic and political circles, the announcement was seen by many as a “best case scenario” for Denmark and its European allies – a scenario that would, at the very least, delay any decision or further escalation by the White House.
Instead, the latest tariffs have injected a new sense of urgency into the issue and strained relations with important NATO allies and trading partners.
Opinion polls suggest that 85% of Greenlanders are opposed to the territory joining the United States.
Protests against Trump’s takeover plans took place organized in Danish cities as well as the Greenland capital, Nuuk, on Saturday – before the prices are announced.
In the Danish capital, Copenhagen, signs were held up reading: “Hands off Greenland” and “Greenland for the Greenlanders.”
“We demand respect for the Danish kingdom and Greenland’s right to self-determination,” said Camilla Siezing, president of Inuit, an umbrella group for Greenlandic associations.
In Nuuk, Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen joined protesters holding signs reading “Greenland is not for sale” and “We shape our future” as they marched toward the US consulate.
The rallies coincide with a visit to Copenhagen by a US congressional delegation. Its leader, Democratic Senator Chris Coons, called Mr. Trump’s rhetoric “unconstructive.”