Trump's Greenland Tariff Ultimatum: Tensions Rise as EU Asserts Sovereignty

Tue Jan 20 2026 01:53:15 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

As Donald Trump reiterates his threats of tariffs on European nations demanding control of Greenland, European leaders rally to defend the territory's sovereignty amid rising tensions.

Donald Trump has declared he will '100%' follow through on his tariff threat against European nations opposing his demand for control over Greenland. The European Union and its member states, including Denmark and the UK, have firmly rejected Trump's assertions, emphasizing that the future of Greenland lies with its current governance. As Trump's tariff plans target several NATO allies, including the UK, Denmark, and others, European leaders prepare to respond during an emergency summit in Brussels.

Donald Trump has vowed to 100% follow through on his threat to impose tariffs on European countries who oppose his demand to take control of Greenland.

European allies have rallied around Greenland's sovereignty. Denmark's foreign minister emphasized that the US president cannot threaten his way to ownership of the semi-autonomous Danish territory.

UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper reiterated the UK's position that the future of Greenland is for Greenlanders and for the Danes alone to decide.

On Monday, Trump declined to rule out the use of force and insisted he would press ahead with the threatened tariffs on goods arriving in the US from the UK and seven other NATO-allied countries.

Asked by NBC News if he would use force to seize Greenland, Trump answered: No comment.

The US president said he would charge Britain a 10% tariff on any and all goods sent to the US from 1 February, increasing to 25% from 1 June until a deal is reached for Washington to purchase Greenland from Denmark.

Trump stated the same would apply to Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Finland—all NATO members. When pressed on his tariff threats, Trump asserted, I will, 100%.

Trump suggested that Europe should focus on the war with Russia and Ukraine, stating, Europe ought to focus on the war with Russia and Ukraine because, frankly, you see what that's gotten them... That's what Europe should focus on - not Greenland.

Denmark has warned that US military action in Greenland would spell the end of NATO. Recently, Greenland received support from European NATO members, with some even sending troops to the territory in a symbolic gesture of solidarity.

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen remarked that Europe must demonstrate that tariff threats are not the way forward, indicating, You can't threaten your way to ownership of Greenland. I have no intention of escalating this situation.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte reassured that the alliance will continue to collaborate with Denmark and Greenland on Arctic security matters. The EU has scheduled an emergency summit for its leaders on Thursday to discuss their strategy regarding Trump's threats.

Kaja Kallas, the EU's foreign policy chief, stated that while the bloc has no interest to pick a fight, we will hold our ground. Kallas further asserted, trade threats are not the way to go about this; sovereignty is not for trade.