President Donald Trump has announced the next step in his pursuit of Greenland, stronger US national security, and world peace. Starting February 1, the US will impose an additional 10% tariff on all goods sent to the United States from Norway, the United Kingdom, and six European Union countries: Denmark, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Finland. That tariff will jump to 25% on June 1 and continue until a deal is reached for the US to purchase Greenland.
The UK is already paying a 10% tariff on most goods, and both Norway and the EU are paying 15% tariffs on most goods. President Trump, who dubbed himself the “Tariff King” on Truth Social on Friday, then laid out his case on Saturday, arguing that the US has “subsidized Denmark, and all of the Countries of the European Union, and others, for many years by not charging them Tariffs, or any other forms of remuneration. Now, after Centuries, it is time for Denmark to give back – World Peace is at stake!”
The US contributed more than $13 billion in aid – which equates to approximately $150 billion in today’s dollars – to 16 European countries under the Marshall Plan between 1948 and 1951. Those countries included Denmark, France, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, and the aid was a strategic investment to strengthen the economies of America’s allies, while expanding markets for US goods.
Trump has long said the acquisition of Greenland is a matter of American national security, calling it "imperative" given its location being halfway between the US and Russia. He reiterated China and Russia’s desires for Greenland in his post, noting that Denmark wouldn’t be able to stop them.
“Nobody will touch this sacred piece of Land, especially since the National Security of the United States, and the World at large, is at stake. On top of everything else, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, The United Kingdom, The Netherlands, and Finland have journeyed to Greenland, for purposes unknown. This is a very dangerous situation for the Safety, Security, and Survival of our Planet. These Countries, who are playing this very dangerous game, have put a level of risk in play that is not tenable or sustainable.”
The president’s announcement comes one day after a bipartisan delegation of nine Democrats and two moderate Republicans met with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen, and Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen, as well as members of the Danish parliament. The mostly symbolic meeting was reportedly meant to “lower the temperature” by relaying congressional support of Denmark’s opposition to the president’s pursuit of a purchase of the Arctic island.
Greenland, Denmark React
Greenlandic associations reportedly organized thousands of Greenlanders and Danes protesting across Denmark and Greenland with signs, banners, and chants. In Denmark’s capital, Copenhagen, and in Greenland’s capital, Nuuk, protesters marched to the US Embassy and US Consulate, respectively. Nielsen reportedly joined the protesters, waving the Greenlandic flag.
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre responded on X on Saturday:
“Threats have no place among allies. Norway's position is firm: Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark. Norway fully supports the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Denmark. There is broad agreement in NATO on the need to strengthen security in the Arctic, including in Greenland.”
Several European countries, including Germany and France, sent troops to Greenland on Thursday, reportedly for a reconnaissance mission. The German Defense Ministry said the mission by European allies was “to explore options for ensuring security in light of Russian and Chinese threats in the Arctic,” thereby reiterating Trump’s claims.
Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen reportedly said the soldiers from several NATO countries will be in Greenland on a rotation system, according to Deutsche Welle.
The US operates Pituffik Space Base, the northernmost military base on Greenland.
What’s Next?
Trump says the US is “immediately open to negotiation with Denmark and/or any of these Countries that have put so much at risk, despite all that we have done for them, including maximum protection, over so many decades.”
Jeff Landry, Trump’s special envoy to Greenland and Louisiana’s Republican governor, told FOX News on Friday he plans to visit Greenland in March and that he believes there is a deal that “should and will be made, once this plays out.” He posted on X on Friday:
“China and Russia have built more icebreakers in one year than the United States has built in the history of our country. They aren’t just building them for fun. It is vital that America secures Greenland and reinforces the Monroe Doctrine for the future of national security. Luckily for us, we have the ultimate deal maker on our team in President Donald Trump.”
The White House said on Friday that the meeting between President Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Danish and Greenlandic officials, during which the two sides agreed to establish a working group that will “continue to have technical talks on the acquisition of Greenland.” Those meetings will reportedly take place every two to three weeks.
