A severe diplomatic crisis has erupted across the Atlantic following former U.S. President Donald Trump’s renewed threats to impose punitive tariffs on European NATO allies unless they acquiesce to his demand for Washington to purchase Greenland. The extraordinary proposition, treating sovereignty as a transactional asset, has drawn unified and fierce condemnation from European capitals.
In a recent interview, Trump explicitly declined to rule out the use of military force to acquire the semi-autonomous Danish territory, responding to a direct question with a terse ‘No comment.’ He instead detailed a plan for escalating tariffs, starting with a 10% levy on all goods from the United Kingdom beginning February 1st, potentially rising to 25% by June. This same economic pressure would be applied to seven other NATO members: Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Finland.
European leaders have mounted a staunch defense of Greenland’s sovereignty and international law. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen asserted that one cannot ‘threaten your way to ownership of Greenland,’ emphasizing the existence of uncrossable ‘red lines.’ UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper reinforced that Greenland’s future is a matter solely for ‘Greenlanders and for the Danes.’
The collective European response has extended beyond rhetoric. In a significant symbolic gesture, several European nations deployed a small contingent of troops to Greenland last week, a move interpreted as a show of solidarity and a deterrence signal. Trump’s subsequent tariff announcement is widely seen as a direct retaliation for this deployment.
Further complicating the diplomatic fray, a separate text message exchange between Trump and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre was revealed. In the messages, Trump complained that Norway was responsible for him not receiving the Nobel Peace Prize, a claim Støre refuted by explaining the prize’s independence from government control.
In response to the escalating situation, the European Union has scheduled an emergency summit in Brussels. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stated the bloc has ‘no interest to pick a fight, but we will hold our ground,’ firmly declaring that ‘sovereignty is not for trade.’ Meanwhile, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte affirmed the alliance’s commitment to continue working with Denmark and Greenland on Arctic security, attempting to navigate the unprecedented rift.