Donald Trump announces a 10% tariff on Denmark, the UK, and France after they oppose his Greenland proposal
Trump said on Truth Social that tariffs would increase to 25% starting June 1 unless the United States secures a deal for the full acquisition of Greenland.
US President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that he will impose a 10 percent tariff on European countries because they are opposing the US acquisition of Greenland.
The US tariffs will apply to Denmark, the UK, France, and other EU countries starting in February.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump announced that the tariffs would be increased to 25 percent on June 1 if the US does not reach a deal for the “complete and total purchase of Greenland.”
The decision comes a day after Trump warned that he could impose tariffs on countries that do not support his Greenland plan.
European leaders have stated that only Denmark and Greenland should decide on matters related to the territory, and Denmark said this week that it is increasing its military presence in Greenland in cooperation with its allies.
The White House has said that the presence of European military forces will not affect Trump’s goal of acquiring Greenland, a move that French Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly indicated shows the continent is prepared to defend its sovereignty.
Trump has long insisted that the US needs mineral-rich Greenland for its “national security.”
Earlier this week, he said that anything less than Greenland coming under US control was “unacceptable.”
The Republican leader has justified his demand for a takeover by saying it is to prevent China and Russia from seizing the territory.
Following a meeting in Washington on Wednesday, Danish representatives said that Copenhagen and Washington are “fundamentally at odds” over the future of Greenland.
Amid the US takeover threats, thousands of people marched in Copenhagen on Saturday to protest in support of their self-governance.
Protesters carried signs that read, “We create our own future,” “Greenland is not for sale,” and “Greenland is already great.”
Denmark’s foreign minister on Thursday ruled out any possibility of a US takeover of Greenland, as the White House said that a European military mission to the Arctic island would not affect Donald Trump’s territorial ambitions.
“There is no question of that. That is not what we want in Denmark or in Greenland, and it is against all international rules. It violates sovereignty,” Lars Løkke Rasmussen said.
Greenland’s Prime Minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, said on Tuesday, “If we had to choose between the United States and Denmark right here and now, we would choose Denmark. We would choose NATO. We would choose the Kingdom of Denmark. We would choose the EU.”
