Former US President Donald Trump has declared that the United Kingdom will face punitive new tariffs on all exports to America, a drastic measure he says is designed to pressure European nations into agreeing to a US purchase of Greenland.
Escalating Tariffs and Arctic Tensions
In a post on his Truth Social platform on Saturday 17 January 2026, Mr Trump outlined a schedule of escalating tariffs targeting several European nations. He stated that from 1 February 2026, a 10% tariff will be applied to "any and all goods" sent to the US from the listed countries, including the UK, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Finland.
This levy is set to rise sharply to 25% from 1 June 2026. Mr Trump declared the tariffs would remain in place "until such time as a Deal is reached for the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland." He accused the European countries of having "journeyed to Greenland, for purposes unknown," creating a "dangerous game" that risked global security.
UK's Role and Political Backlash
The announcement follows confirmation from Downing Street earlier in the week that the UK had sent a single military officer to Greenland at Denmark's request. The officer was to join a reconnaissance group ahead of a planned Arctic Endurance exercise, though the UK government denied this constituted a formal "deployment."
The move has drawn swift condemnation from across the UK political spectrum. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch labelled the tariff plan "a terrible idea" and said President Trump was "completely wrong." She warned it would impose higher costs on people in both the UK and US and burden British businesses.
In a rare moment of cross-party agreement, Ms Badenoch added, "The sovereignty of Greenland should only be decided by the people of Greenland. On this, I agree with Keir Starmer." Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has previously raised Arctic security concerns in calls with Mr Trump, the Danish prime minister, and the NATO secretary-general.
Broader Implications for Diplomacy and Defence
This latest provocation intensifies a long-standing campaign by Mr Trump to acquire Greenland, which he argues is necessary to prevent Russian or Chinese control of the strategically vital Arctic territory. His administration has previously threatened to use force to annex the semi-autonomous Danish region, causing profound concern within the NATO alliance.
The threat has also galvanised public opposition. On Saturday, hundreds attended a rally in Nuuk, Greenland's capital, supporting self-governance, while thousands protested across Denmark against any US takeover.
Mr Trump framed his tariff ultimatum as a protective measure, stating the US was "immediately open to negotiation" and that it was "time for Denmark to give back." He asserted, "China and Russia want Greenland, and there is not a thing that Denmark can do about it." The situation presents a major test for transatlantic relations and international trade norms.
