Trump Vows 100% Tariffs on European Allies Over Greenland Dispute

Donald Trump has vowed to "100%" carry out his threat to put taxes on European countries that defy his proposal to take control of Greenland. On Monday, Trump refused to rule out the use of force and insisted on enforcing the threatening tariffs on products entering in the US from the United Kingdom and seven other NATO allies. When asked by NBC News if he would use force to seize Greenland, Trump replied, "No comment."

The US president stated that he will charge Britain a 10% duty "on any and all goods" sent to the US beginning February 1st, up to 25% on June 1st, until a deal is found for Washington to purchase Greenland from Denmark. Trump stated that the same would apply to Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Finland. When asked if he would carry out the tariff threat, Mr. Trump told NBC News, "I will, 100%." Donald Trump continued: "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."

Why This News Matters:

This is important because it puts trade, security, and alliances at odds with each other. Donald Trump is not only threatening tariffs on close European allies, but he is also not ruling out deploying force against Greenland. This goes against long-standing conventions about sovereignty and might put NATO under strain at a time of global turmoil. For Europe, the issue is protecting its borders and following international law. For businesses and markets, it means the prospect of a new trade war across the Atlantic. The fact that Greenlanders are speaking out against this shows that it is not merely a diplomatic issue, but also a matter of self-determination.

European Allies Defend Greenland’s Sovereignty

European allies have gathered to support Greenland's sovereignty. Denmark's foreign minister reiterated that the US president cannot threaten his way into control of the semi-autonomous Danish region. Yvette Cooper, the UK Foreign Secretary, underlined the UK's position that the future of Greenland is up to "Greenlanders and for the Danes alone."

According to Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Europe must demonstrate that President Trump's tariff threats are not a viable solution. "We have red lines that can't be crossed," he told Sky News. "You can't threaten your way to ownership of Greenland. I have no intention of escalating this situation." Greenland stated that it was a democratic society that should be allowed to determine its own future. "We will not be pressured," stated the territory's prime minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen.

Denmark has said that if the US sends troops to Greenland, it could mean the end of NATO. European alliance members have recently backed Greenland, and some even sent a small group of troops to the island last week as a show of support. Mark Rutte, the Secretary General of NATO, said that the group will keep working with Denmark and Greenland to protect the Arctic. Troels Lund Poulsen, Denmark's defense minister, said that he and Greenland's foreign minister had talked about the possibility of a NATO mission in Greenland and the Arctic.

EU Emergency Response and Trade Retaliation

The European Union's leaders will meet in Brussels for an emergency summit on Thursday to debate how to respond to Trump's latest threat. The EU's foreign policy leader, Kaja Kallas, stated that the bloc had "no interest to pick a fight, but we will hold our ground." "But trade threats are not the way to go about this," Kallas stressed. "Sovereignty is not for trade." EU leaders will consider potential reactions, which could include duties on €93 billion in US goods or the bloc's anti-coercion mechanism. Lars Klingbeil, Germany's vice-chancellor, and Roland Lescure, France's finance minister, both condemned Trump's tariff plans as extortion.

President Trump is now alleging that one of the reasons he wants to buy Greenland is that he did not receive the Nobel Peace Prize. In a text message to Norway's prime minister Jonas Gahr Støre, Trump stated that he no longer felt bound to think "purely of peace" after being snubbed for the medal. "Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS," Trump said. Støre clarified that the prize is awarded by an independent committee, not the Norwegian government. "Norway's position on Greenland is clear. Greenland is a part of the Kingdom of Denmark," said Støre. Trump later stated, "Norway totally controls it, despite what they say." The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded by the Norwegian Nobel Committee, an independent body.

‘No Means No’: Greenlanders Reject US Takeover Calls

Greenland has been a part of the Danish Kingdom for over 300 years. Denmark says it can't sell Greenland, which is a self-governing territory, and that the 57,000 people who live there will choose their own fate. Polls and interviews show that most people in Greenland do not want to join the United States. Hundreds of Greenlanders marched through Nuuk on Saturday, yelling "No means no," "Greenland is already great," and "Yankee, go home!" A change to the US-Denmark military treaty in 2004 says that Greenland is "an equal part of the Kingdom of Denmark."

NORAD says that a lot of planes are heading to Greenland's Pituffik Space Base. Norad said that the action was normal and planned with Denmark and Greenland. Norad did similar things in 2022, 2023, and last year. A three-way talk organized by Vice President JD Vance didn't lead to any new ideas and made things even more confusing. Friedrich Merz, the chancellor of Germany, and Keir Starmer, the prime minister of the UK, both called for calm but said that Europe would respond if tariffs were put in place.

What to Watch Next:

Watch the outcome of the European Union emergency summit in Brussels and whether leaders move toward retaliation, including tariffs or the anti-coercion instrument. Attention will also focus on any follow-up signals from Washington — especially whether tariff deadlines are enforced or softened. Military movements around Greenland, NATO coordination in the Arctic, and further statements from Greenland’s own leaders will be key indicators of whether tensions ease or escalate in the days ahead.