Trump Ties Europe Tariffs to U.S. Bid for Greenland: What to Know
President Trump renewed threats of tariffs on key European NATO allies unless they agree to talks on a U.S. purchase of Greenland, deepening a dispute over sovereignty and transatlantic security.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday renewed his warning to European allies, vowing to impose sweeping tariffs on countries that oppose his push for Washington to take control of Greenland, escalating a dispute that is straining relations inside NATO.
Trump said he would “100%” follow through on plans to tax European imports unless governments agree to talks over Greenland, a self-governing Danish territory of growing strategic importance in the Arctic.
“I will do it. One hundred percent,” Trump told NBC News when asked whether the tariff threat was real.
European allies quickly closed ranks behind Denmark. Copenhagen’s foreign minister said Greenland’s sovereignty was not up for negotiation and could not be obtained through threats or economic pressure.
Britain’s Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the future of Greenland must be decided “only by the people of Greenland and the people of Denmark,” rejecting what she described as outside interference.
The dispute has revived tensions between Washington and its traditional partners, with European officials warning that economic coercion over territorial issues could undermine NATO unity.
Trump said the United Kingdom would face a 10% tariff on all goods exported to the United States starting Feb. 1, rising to 25% by June unless an agreement is reached allowing the U.S. to purchase Greenland from Denmark.
He added that the same measures would apply to Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Finland — all NATO members.
Pressed on whether he might use military force to seize Greenland, Trump declined to rule it out, replying: “I’m not commenting on that.”
Greenland has become increasingly valuable because of its location along key North Atlantic and Arctic routes, as well as its potential mineral and energy resources. Analysts say Trump’s stance reflects a broader U.S. effort to secure leverage in the Arctic as competition with Russia and China intensifies.
“This is not just about Greenland,” said one European diplomat. “It’s about power, trade and control of strategic geography.”
For now, European governments remain defiant, but Trump’s tariff threat signals a new phase of economic and political confrontation between Washington and its closest allies — one that could reshape both trade ties and security cooperation across the Atlantic.
