PALM BEACH, United States — President Donald Trump on Saturday pushed a long-simmering geopolitical dispute into open confrontation, warning several European nations of sweeping new tariffs unless Denmark agrees to relinquish control of Greenland.
The ultimatum came amid mass demonstrations in Greenland and Denmark, where citizens and political leaders rejected Washington’s renewed interest in acquiring the Arctic territory, a mineral-rich landmass of just 57,000 people that has become strategically valuable as polar routes and resources grow more contested.
Trump announced that beginning February 1, a group of European countries — including Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Finland — would face a 10 per cent duty on all exports to the United States. He said the levy would rise to 25 per cent by June 2026 and remain in effect until negotiations over Greenland’s “complete and total” transfer are concluded.
The threat targets several NATO allies, raising concerns that the dispute could fracture cohesion within the alliance at a moment of heightened tension in the Arctic.
“These governments are creating a dangerous situation that cannot continue,” Trump said, arguing that aggressive economic measures were necessary to safeguard global stability. He added that he was open to talks with Denmark and any country affected by the policy.
Protests Across the North
In Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, thousands gathered in the rain, waving national flags and chanting slogans opposing any transfer of sovereignty. Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen joined the rally, signaling the government’s firm resistance.
Protesters wore caps reading “Make America Go Away,” a pointed response to Trump’s signature campaign slogan. Many framed the issue as a matter of national dignity rather than geopolitics.
“We are not a bargaining chip,” said one demonstrator. “Our future is ours to decide.”
In Copenhagen, parallel rallies filled city squares with Danish and Greenlandic flags. Demonstrators denounced what they described as economic coercion by an ally and warned that international law was being tested.
Security, Strategy, and Pressure
Trump has repeatedly argued that Greenland is critical to US defense interests, citing concerns about growing Russian and Chinese activity in the Arctic. He has questioned Denmark’s ability to protect the territory and suggested that American stewardship would better secure the region.
European officials rejected that narrative. France said a recent multinational military exercise in Greenland was meant to demonstrate allied readiness to defend the territory, while Denmark confirmed that the United States had been invited to participate.
Legal experts said it remains unclear under what authority Trump could impose tariffs explicitly tied to territorial negotiations.
Since returning to office, the president has revived tariffs as a primary instrument of foreign policy, applying them broadly to pressure partners on trade, security, and strategic issues. The move risks undercutting a tariff-reduction agreement reached last year between Washington and the European Union.
Political Pushback
A bipartisan delegation of US lawmakers visiting Copenhagen distanced themselves from the president’s position. Senator Chris Coons, who led the group, said the proposal did not reflect mainstream American opinion and warned that it could damage long-standing alliances.
Public sentiment in Greenland remains firmly opposed. A poll released earlier this year showed that more than four out of five residents reject any move toward joining the United States.
For now, Europe is bracing for a confrontation that blends trade policy, military strategy, and sovereignty — with Greenland at the center of a dispute that could redraw the boundaries of Atlantic diplomacy.
