President Donald Trump said Saturday he is going to issue a 10% tariff on Denmark and seven other European countries until “a Deal is reached for the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland.”
The other countries include Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Finland. Trump said the tariffs would increase to 25% if a deal is not reached by June 1.
“China and Russia want Greenland, and there is not a thing that Denmark can do about it,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“Only the United States of America, under PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP, can play in this game, and very successfully, at that!” he added.
Trump also talked about the security exercises around Greenland between Denmark and other European allies, calling them a “very dangerous situation for the Safety, Security, and Survival of our Planet.”
“Therefore, it is imperative that, in order to protect Global Peace and Security, strong measures be taken so that this potentially perilous situation end quickly, and without question,” Trump wrote.
Leaders from Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom said in a joint statement Sunday that the tariff threats “undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral,” adding: “We will continue to stand united and coordinated in our response. We are committed to upholding our sovereignty.”
Trump’s announcement was the latest step in a sharp escalation in tensions between the U.S. and some of its closest allies in Europe.
The E.U. is America’s largest trading partner and its largest source of imports.
“The EU stands in full solidarity with Denmark and the people of Greenland,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa in a joint statement.
The new tariffs “would undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral,” they added. “Europe will remain united, coordinated, and committed to upholding its sovereignty.”
“The European Union will always be very firm in defending international law, wherever it may be, and of course, starting within the territory of the European Union’s member states,” Costa said in a press conference on Saturday.
