WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — In a dramatic escalation of his second-term foreign policy, President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that he will impose sweeping tariffs on eight European nations as leverage to force the sale of Greenland to the United States.
In a series of posts on Truth Social, the President declared that a 10% tariff will be levied on all goods from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Finland starting February 1, 2026. He further warned that if a deal for the "Complete and Total purchase" of the territory is not reached by June 1, the rate will skyrocket to 25%.
“This Tariff will be due and payable until such time as a Deal is reached,” Trump wrote, characterizing the move as a matter of national security and a response to what he termed "interference" by European allies in the Arctic.
A Rupture in the Transatlantic Alliance
The announcement has sent shockwaves through European capitals. The targeted nations include some of America’s oldest and closest NATO allies. Tensions had already been simmering after several of these countries recently deployed symbolic troop contingents to Greenland to support Denmark’s sovereignty amidst rumors of U.S. military planning regarding the island.
European leaders were swift to condemn the move:
- France: President Emmanuel Macron called the threats “unacceptable,” stating that “no intimidation or threats will influence us” when it comes to international law and sovereignty.
- United Kingdom: Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the tariffs as “completely wrong,” reaffirming that Greenland’s future is a matter solely for the Greenlanders and the Danish government.
- Denmark: Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, who has previously called the idea of selling Greenland "absurd," stood firm, with officials in Copenhagen stating they would not “bow down” to "bullying tactics."
The "Golden Dome" and National Security
The Trump administration argues that control of Greenland is essential for the "Golden Dome"—the President's ambitious expanded missile defense system. Trump has repeatedly claimed that without U.S. intervention, Russia or China will eventually seize the territory, though European officials argue that NATO already provides sufficient security.
The move also threatens to derail the fragile EU-U.S. trade pact that was nearing completion. Manfred Weber, leader of the European People’s Party, suggested that the EU should now consider retaliatory "0% tariff" holds on U.S. products.
Domestic and Global Reaction
While the President maintains that tariffs are his most effective negotiating tool, early polling suggests the move is controversial at home. A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll indicated that fewer than one in five Americans approve of a forced acquisition of Greenland, and only 4% support the use of military force.
As the February 1 deadline approaches, EU ambassadors are scheduled to hold an emergency meeting in Brussels this Sunday to coordinate a unified response. For now, the "Tariff King" has made his opening move, leaving the future of the post-WWII security architecture—and the price of European imports—hanging in the balance.
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