Donald Trump says he will impose Greenland tariffs ‘100%’, EU vows to defend sovereignty
Trump told NBC News that the United States would impose a 10% tariff on “any and all goods” coming from the UK from 1 February, rising to 25% from 1 June, unless Washington reaches a deal to buy Greenland from Denmark.
Trump said he would not back down from the tariff threat and declined to rule out the use of force when asked about seizing the territory. (AP)
US President Donald Trump has said he will “100%” go ahead with tariffs on European countries that oppose his demand to take control of Greenland, the BBC reported.
Speaking to NBC News, Trump said he would not back down from the tariff threat and declined to rule out the use of force when asked about seizing the territory. “No comment,” he said.
European leaders have responded by backing Greenland’s sovereignty and warning that threats will not work. Greenland is a semi-autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark.
Denmark’s foreign minister, Lars Lokke Rasmussen, said Europe had clear limits. “You can’t threaten your way to ownership of Greenland,” he told Sky News, as quoted by the BBC. He added that he had “no intention of escalating this situation”.
UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper also rejected Trump’s position, saying the future of Greenland was for “Greenlanders and for the Danes alone” to decide.
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A street in Nuuk displays the Greenlandic national flag. (AP)
Trump told NBC News that the United States would impose a 10% tariff on “any and all goods” coming from the UK from 1 February, rising to 25% from 1 June, unless Washington reaches a deal to buy Greenland from Denmark. He said the same tariffs would apply to Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Finland.
Asked directly if he would follow through, Trump said: “I will, 100%,” according to the BBC.
Trump also criticised Europe’s priorities, saying it should focus on the war in Ukraine rather than Greenland. “Europe ought to focus on the war with Russia and Ukraine,” he said.
The European Union said it would not be drawn into confrontation but would protect its position. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the bloc had “no interest to pick a fight, but we will hold our ground”. She added: “Trade threats are not the way to go about this. Sovereignty is not for trade”.
Nato secretary general Mark Rutte said the alliance would continue working with Denmark and Greenland on Arctic security.
The EU is expected to discuss its response at an emergency summit in Brussels later this week.
The BBC also reported on text messages between Trump and Norway’s prime minister, Jonas Gahr Store, in which Trump blamed Norway for not receiving the Nobel Peace Prize.
Store replied that the prize is decided by an independent committee and reaffirmed Norway’s support for Denmark’s position on Greenland.
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Trump said he would not back down from the tariff threat and declined to rule out the use of force when asked about seizing the territory. (AP) 
