Trump's Greenland tariffs threaten European allies

[ad_1] Folks bear Greenlandic flags as they collect in entrance of the U.S. consulate protest towards U.S. President Donald Trump and his introduced intent to accumulate Greenland on January 17, 2026 in Nuuk, Greenland.

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European leaders have hit again at U.S. President Donald Trump's risk to impose contemporary tariffs on them in the event that they oppose his try to purchase Greenland, describing the ultimatum as "fully unsuitable" and "unacceptable."

Trump introduced on Saturday that eight European allies would face increasing tariffs , beginning at 10% on Feb.1 and rising to 25% on June 1, if a deal shouldn't be reached so Washington can "purchase" the Arctic territory, which is semi-autonomous and a part of the Kingdom of Denmark.

Eight NATO members' items despatched to the U.S. will face escalating tariffs "till such time as a Deal is reached for the Full and Complete buy of Greenland," Trump stated on his social media platform Reality Social on Saturday.

The proposed tariffs would goal Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the U.Okay, the Netherlands and Finland, Trump stated.

European leaders have been fast to react to the newest risk with U.Okay. Prime Minister Keir Starmer commenting Saturday that "making use of tariffs on allies for pursuing the collective safety of NATO allies is totally unsuitable," whereas French President Emmanuel Macron described them as "unacceptable."

"Europeans will reply in a united and coordinated method ought to they be confirmed. We'll be certain that European sovereignty is upheld," Macron said on social media platform X on Saturday,

European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen and President of the European Council Antonio Costa issued a statement Saturday by which they stated the EU "stands in full solidarity with Denmark and the individuals of Greenland."

It added that it was dedicated to additional dialogue following talks between Denmark, Greenland and prime U.S. officers final week, which ended without a diplomatic breakthrough .

Nonetheless, Danish Overseas Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen stated Trump's tariffs threat had come "as a surprise" following the "constructive assembly" with U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

The European Union has known as an emergency assembly which can happen at 16:00 p.m. London time on Sunday, Reuters reported .

Finnish President Alexander Stubb, who, like British PM Keir Starmer is thought to have a very good relationship with Donald Trump, known as for cool heads and additional talks.

He warned additional tariffs — which might come on prime of the 15% tariff on EU exports to the U.S., and the ten% levied on U.Okay. exports -- can be damaging, nevertheless.

"Amongst allies, points are finest resolved via dialogue, not via strain," he said on X .

"European international locations stand united. We emphasize the ideas of territorial integrity and sovereignty. We help Denmark and Greenland. Dialogue with the US continues. Tariffs would undermine the transatlantic relationship and threat a harmful downward spiral."

Denmark and its European neighbors have made repeated efforts to dissuade Trump from trying to purchase Greenland, significantly after the president stated earlier this month that he would think about all choices to acquire the mineral-rich island, including using military force .

Trump says buying Greenland is vital for U.S. nationwide safety. He has additionally stated that U.S. possession would forestall Russia and China from gaining a foothold within the territory. Beijing and Moscow have lambasted Trump's claims and his coveting of Greenland, calling them a "pretext ...for selfish gains" and "extraordinary ."

Younger individuals with placards studying "Greenland shouldn't be on the market!" participate in an illustration that gathered nearly a 3rd of the town inhabitants to protest towards the US President's plans to take Greenland, on January 17, 2026 in Nuuk, Greenland, close to the US Consulate to Greenland.

Alessandro Rampazzo | Afp | Getty Photos

Greenland itself has repeatedly rejected Trump's advances and whereas a majority of its inhabitants would love independence from Denmark, based on opinion polls, most Greenlanders would not like to become a part of the U.S., either.

Protests have been held in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, on Saturday, with demonstrators holding placards reiterating the place of the island's management, and that of Denmark, that "Greenland shouldn't be on the market."