US President Donald Trump has not ruled out the use of military force to acquire Greenland. (AP/File Photo)
After US President Donald Trump announced a 10% tariff for eight European countries, including the UK, France and Germany for opposing the American control of Greenland, the European Union ambassadors have said they are due to hold an emergency meeting on the issue as thousands protested in Denmark and Greenland against the Washington’s proposal to take over the island.
Trump, in a post on Saturday, said that Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland would face the tariff from February 1 onwards and warned the tariffs could rise to 25% on June 1 unless a “deal is reached”.
The Republican president appeared to indicate that he was using tariffs as a tool to force talks with Denmark and other European countries over Greenland’s status.
A boy holds a crossed out map of Greenland topped by a hairpiece symbolizing US President Donald Trump, during a protest against Trump’s policy towards Greenland in front of the US consulate in Nuuk, Greenland. (AP Photo)
- 01
How has Europe responded to Trump’s tariff threat
The eight European countries targeted by Trump issued a joint statement on Sunday and blasted the Trump administration for threatening to take over Greenland and imposing tariffs and warned of a “dangerous downward spiral” if this action goes ahead.
“We stand in full solidarity with the Kingdom of Denmark and the people of Greenland. Building on the process begun last week, we stand ready to engage in a dialogue based on the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity that we stand firmly behind. Tariff threats undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral,” the group said.
- 02
Why did some European countries send military to Greenland
Trump administration has threatened to impose tariffs on the eight European countries which recently sent a small numbers of military personnel to Greenland. The European deployment was meant to help Denmark prepare for military exercises.
The major US allies, which sent troops to Greenland, said the troops sent were for Danish military training exercise “Arctic Endurance” and posed “no threat to anyone.”
- 03
What is UK’s position on Greenland
When UK’s Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy was asked how Britain would respond to Trump’s new tariff threat, she said allies need to work with the United States to resolve the dispute.
“Our position on Greenland is non-negotiable…It is in our collective interest to work together and not to start a war of words,” she told Sky News.
- 04
How did UK PM Keir Starmer react to Trump’s tariff threat
In a post on X, UK PM Keir Starmer wrote, “Applying tariffs on allies for pursuing the collective security of NATO allies is completely wrong. We will of course be pursuing this directly with the US administration.”
Our position on Greenland is very clear – it is part of the Kingdom of Denmark and its future is a matter for the Greenlanders and the Danes.
We have also made clear that Arctic Security matters for the whole of NATO and allies should all do more together to address the threat…
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) January 17, 2026
- 05
What happens to US-EU trade deal signed in July
Trump’s new tariff threat has questioned the trade deals the US had signed with the UK in May and the European Union in July.
The European Parliament is likely to suspend its work on the EU-US trade deal which was due to vote on removing many EU import duties on January 26-27.
