Trump threatens tariffs on countries opposing US takeover of Greenland
US President Donald Trump has warned that he could introduce trade tariffs against countries that refuse to back his ambition to take control of Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory under NATO member Denmark.
Speaking on Friday during a health-focused roundtable at the White House, Trump said economic pressure could be used to advance his Greenland agenda.
“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,” he added.
The president likened the potential measures to earlier tariff threats he issued last year against France and Germany in disputes over pharmaceutical pricing.
The latest remarks mark a further escalation in Trump’s long-running push to acquire the Arctic island, a strategy that has included warnings that the United States could resort to military options if diplomacy fails.
Trump has repeatedly argued that Greenland’s vast mineral resources are vital to US interests and has accused the territory of failing to adequately protect itself from the growing influence of Russia and China.
In response to Trump’s statements, several European countries have publicly reaffirmed their support for Denmark and Greenland. Some have gone further by deploying troops to the strategically important region.
Meanwhile, a bipartisan delegation from the US Congress arrived in Copenhagen on Friday to express solidarity with Denmark and Greenland amid the rising tensions.
Earlier in the week, the foreign ministers of Denmark and Greenland held talks at the White House aimed at easing the dispute. However, they later acknowledged that they were still in “fundamental disagreement” with Trump.
Despite the sharp differences, the White House said on Thursday that the United States, Denmark and Greenland have agreed to establish a joint working group that will meet every two to three weeks to continue discussions on the matter.
Trump threatens tariffs on countries opposing US takeover of Greenland
