LONDON — European leaders hit again at U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement that he would impose sanctions on nations that deployed small numbers of army forces to Greenland final week, because the president continues his push to accumulate the Arctic territory.
Trump stated Saturday {that a} 10% tariff could be imposed on all items despatched to the U.S. from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the U.Ok., the Netherlands and Finland.
Trump stated the brand new tariffs will come into power on Feb. 1, and can enhance to 25% on June 1. The president stated the measures would stay in place till the U.S. is ready to buy Greenland.
Greenland is a self-governing territory of the Kingdom of Denmark. Trump first raised the prospect of buying the minerals-rich island in his first time period. Danish and Greenlandic politicians have repeatedly rebuffed such proposals.
This aerial view reveals individuals as they participate in an indication that gathered nearly a 3rd of town inhabitants to protest in opposition to the US President’s plans to take Greenland, Jan. 17, 2026, in Nuuk, Greenland.
Mads Schmidt Rasmussen/Arctic Artistic/AFP by way of Getty
European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen on Saturday stated the bloc’s members will meet Trump’s strain as a united entrance.
“We’ve got persistently underlined our shared transatlantic curiosity in peace and safety within the Arctic, together with by means of NATO,” she wrote in a submit to X. “The pre-coordinated Danish train, carried out with allies, responds to the necessity to strengthen Arctic safety and poses no menace to anybody.”
“Tariffs would undermine transatlantic relations and danger a harmful downward spiral. Europe will stay united, coordinated and dedicated to upholding its sovereignty,” von der Leyen stated.
Kaja Kallas, the EU’s international affairs chief, recommended in a submit to X that the escalating tensions between the U.S. and its European allies is a boon for Moscow and Beijing.
“China and Russia should be having a discipline day,” she wrote. “They’re those who profit from divisions amongst allies. If Greenland’s safety is in danger, we will deal with this inside NATO.”
Troopers of the Bundeswehr, the German armed forces, arrive at Nuuk Airport, January 16, 2026 in Nuuk, Greenland.
Sean Gallup/Getty Photos
“Tariffs danger making Europe and america poorer and undermine our shared prosperity,” Kallas wrote, suggesting the furor was distracting from allied efforts to help Ukraine in opposition to Russia’s ongoing full-scale invasion.
EU pushback in opposition to Trump got here alongside criticism from nationwide leaders.
“France is dedicated to the sovereignty and independence of countries,” French President Emmanuel Macron stated in an announcement Saturday, including that “no intimidation nor menace will affect us, neither in Ukraine, nor in Greenland, nor anyplace else on the earth once we are confronted with such conditions.”
“Tariff threats are unacceptable and haven’t any place on this context. Europeans will reply to them in a united and coordinated method in the event that they had been to be confirmed. We are going to know learn how to uphold European sovereignty,” Macron stated.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated, “Making use of tariffs on allies for pursuing the collective safety of NATO allies is totally unsuitable.”
Danish servicemen stroll in entrance of Joint Arctic Command heart in Nuuk, Greenland, Jan. 16, 2026.
Evgeniy Maloletka/AP
“Our place on Greenland may be very clear — it’s a part of the Kingdom of Denmark and its future is a matter for the Greenlanders and the Danes,” he stated.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson stated discussions are ongoing between the affected nations to construct a coordinated response.
“We is not going to let ourselves be blackmailed. Solely Denmark and Greenland determine on points regarding Denmark and Greenland,” he stated.
Trump has repeatedly recommended that U.S. sovereignty over the world’s largest island is important to make sure American safety and blunt Chinese language and Russian affect within the Arctic area.
“It is a very harmful state of affairs for the Security, Safety, and Survival of our Planet. These International locations, who’re taking part in this very harmful recreation, have put a degree of danger in play that’s not tenable or sustainable,” Trump posted on social media on Saturday, referring to deployment of small contingents of troops by European allies.
Danish army forces take part in an train with lots of of troops from a number of European NATO members within the Arctic Ocean in Nuuk, Greenland, Sept. 15, 2025.
Ebrahim Noroozi/AP, Recordsdata
“Solely america of America, beneath PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP, can play on this recreation, and really efficiently, at that!” he stated within the submit.
As part of the Kingdom of Denmark, Greenland is roofed by NATO’s collective protection clause. Greenland hosts the U.S. Pituffik Area Base and round 150 American troops, the U.S. having considerably downgraded its footprint from its excessive level through the Chilly Warfare.
A 1951 protection settlement grants the U.S. army entry to Greenland. Danish politicians have repeatedly expressed willingness to work with Washington to broaden the American and NATO presence there.
Danish officers have additionally sought to go off considerations in regards to the supposed vulnerability of the Arctic. Final 12 months, Copenhagen introduced a $6.5 billion Arctic protection bundle in response to U.S. criticism that it had did not adequately defend Greenland.
However such steps don’t seem to have deterred Trump, who has stated he would contemplate taking Greenland by power if different means to accumulate the land fail.
A lady pulls her kids on a sled throughout a protest in opposition to Trump’s coverage in direction of Greenland in entrance of the US consulate in Nuuk, Greenland, Jan. 17, 2026.
Evgeniy Maloletka/AP
A gathering in Washington, D.C., final week between U.S., Danish and Greenlandic representatives seemingly did not de-escalate the standoff.
“It is clear that the president has this want of conquering over Greenland,” Danish Overseas Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen instructed reporters after assembly with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Rasmussen stated that consequence was “completely unacceptable.”
Rasmussen stated Saturday that the president’s menace got here as a shock, citing his “constructive assembly” with Vance and Rubio final week.
Rasmussen stated in an announcement that the aim of final week’s army deployments to Greenland “is to reinforce safety within the Arctic.”
The continued U.S. deal with Greenland prompted protests there this weekend, with crowds of individuals turning out for a “Cease Trump” march by means of the capital Nuuk. Greenlandic politicians have collectively and repeatedly stated they don’t want to be part of the U.S.
Protesters maintain a banner studying “Yankee Go House” throughout a march to the US consulate throughout an indication, beneath the slogan ‘Greenland belongs to the Greenlandic individuals’, in Nuuk, Greenland, March 15, 2025.
Christian Klindt Soelbeck/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP by way of Getty Photos
Trump’s efforts have additionally prompted congressional resistance. On Friday, a bipartisan group of Home members and senators traveled to Greenland and stated that they had “constructive” conversations with members of Denmark’s parliament.
U.S. Sens. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., and Thom Tillis, R-N.C., who had been a part of the delegation, launched an announcement Saturday warning that the tariff menace will damage the U.S.’s relationships with its European counterparts.
“There isn’t any want, or want, for a expensive acquisition or hostile army takeover of Greenland when our Danish and Greenlandic allies are desirous to work with us on Arctic safety, vital minerals and different priorities beneath the framework of long-standing treaties,” the lawmakers stated within the assertion.
Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer stated on Saturday that Democrats will introduce laws to dam tariffs in opposition to nations who oppose a takeover of Greenland.
ABC Information’ Victoria Beaule, Chris Boccia, Rashid Haddou, Isabella Murray and Ivan Pereira contributed to this report.
