Trump's Green Threat: 100% Tariff Commitment Amid European Defiance

Tue Jan 20 2026 04:10:07 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Donald Trump reaffirms his commitment to imposing tariffs on European nations opposing his Greenland claims, sparking a united front from European allies.

In a bold move, Trump declares he will enforce tariffs on European goods if they do not comply with his demands regarding Greenland ownership. European leaders are rallying in support of Greenland's sovereignty and denouncing Trump's methods. As tensions rise, an emergency EU summit is planned to address the escalating situation.

Donald Trump has vowed to 100% follow through on his threat to impose tariffs on European countries who oppose his demand to take control of Greenland.

European allies have rallied around Greenland's sovereignty. Denmark's foreign minister emphasized that the US president cannot threaten his way to ownership of the semi-autonomous Danish territory.

UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper reiterated the UK's position that the future of Greenland is for Greenlanders and for the Danes alone to decide.

On Monday, Trump declined to rule out the use of force and insisted he would press ahead with the threatened tariffs on goods arriving in the US from the UK and seven other NATO-allied countries.

Asked by NBC News if he would use force to seize Greenland, Trump answered: No comment.

The US president said he would charge Britain a 10% tariff on any and all goods sent to the US from 1 February, increasing to 25% from 1 June, until a deal is reached for Washington to purchase Greenland from Denmark.

Trump said the same would apply to Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Finland—all NATO members.

Asked if he will follow through on the tariff threat, he told NBC News: I will, 100%.

Trump added: 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.

Denmark has warned that US military action in Greenland would spell the end of NATO. In recent days, Greenland has received support from European NATO members, with some even sending troops to Greenland last week as a symbolic gesture.

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen stated that Europe must show President Trump that tariff threats are not the way forward.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte confirmed the alliance's commitment to work with Denmark and Greenland on Arctic security.

The European Union is set to hold an emergency summit in Brussels where leaders will discuss their response to Trump's latest Greenland threats.

Kaja Kallas, the EU's foreign policy chief, stated the bloc has no interest to pick a fight—but we will hold our ground. She added that trade threats are not the way to go about this. Sovereignty is not for trade.