Donald Trump has threatened to impose a 25% tariff on a range of European countries, including Denmark, Germany, France and the UK, until the United States is permitted to purchase Greenland. In a post on Truth Social, the US president said the tariff would apply to Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands and Finland from 1 February and remain in force until a deal for the “Complete and Total purchase of Greenland” is reached.
The threat follows Trump’s longstanding interest in acquiring the autonomous Danish territory, which he claims poses a national security threat to the US. US allies, including Denmark, have disputed this. The president’s statement referred to Nato allies deploying troops in Greenland earlier this week, which he said was for “purposes unknown”. Denmark’s foreign minister, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, responded by describing the increased military presence as an effort to “enhance security in the Arctic”.
European leaders reacted with unusual bluntness. Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, said the EU stood “in full solidarity with Denmark and the people of Greenland”, warning that tariffs would “undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral”. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the tariff plan “completely wrong” and said the UK would pursue the matter directly with the US administration.
French President Emmanuel Macron drew an implicit comparison with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, writing that “no intimidation or threat will influence us – neither in Ukraine, nor in Greenland, nor anywhere else”. Finland’s President Alexander Stubb echoed the warning of a “downward spiral”, while Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said Sweden would “not let ourselves be blackmailed”. Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre added that “threats have no place among allies”.
Germany’s response was more reserved, with Chancellor Friedrich Merz saying only that the government had “taken note of” the statements and would coordinate with allies. However, Rasmus Jarlov, the conservative chair of Denmark’s defence committee, wrote bluntly: “Every insult, threat, tariff and lie that we receive strengthens our resolve. The answer from Denmark and Greenland is final: We will never hand over Greenland.”
