As a result of a dispute over the semi-autonomous Danish territory he has long desired, United States President Donald Trump has pledged to steadily raise tariffs on European nations that have opposed his acquisition of Greenland.
What is the rationale behind Trump’s attempt to control the island nation of Greenland, and how have NATO allies responded?
What tariff threat does Trump have to Greenland?
Trump claimed in a post on his Truth Social platform on Saturday that he had not tarnished tariffs on Denmark and other European Union nations.
It is time for Denmark to return, saying, “World Peace is in danger!” There is nothing Denmark can do to help Greenland, despite the demands of China and Russia. ”
Trump added that “the United States’ and the world’s overall security are in jeopardy.” ”
According to Trump, all of their exports to the US will be subject to a 10% tariff starting on February 1. This includes Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, and Finland.
He claimed that the tariff will go up to 25% starting on June 1. Till a deal is reached to purchase Greenland in its entirety and before this tariff is due and payable, Trump wrote.
Trump added that, “Over the past 150 years, the United States has been trying to do this transaction.” Denmark has repeatedly tried, and with good reason, but it has always refused. ”
Trump is the first US president to veto Greenland.
Greenland is not for sale, according to Danish and Greenland officials. Greenlanders have been protesting Trump’s plans to buy Greenland in recent days. Trump is not the first US president to pursue an Arctic acquisition, despite the fact that he has been pushing for it since his first term.
In 1867, William H. Seward, the then Secretary of State, unsuccessfully attempted to purchase Greenland. After Germany invaded Denmark during World War II, the US occupied Greenland and constructed military and radio installations there. It is permanently located at the northwest Pituffik Space Base.
President Harry S. Truman secretly offered Denmark $100 million in 1946 while Greenland was still a Danish colony, but Copenhagen refused. Only in 1991 did the proposal become widely known.
According to polls, Americans do not support Washington’s acquisition of Greenland. Less than one in five US residents were polled this week by Reuters/Ipsos, according to the results of a Reuters/Ipsos poll. firmly opposed to the concept of acquiring Greenland .
Trump wants Greenland, but why?
The island’s strategic importance is due to its location and its abundance of natural resources.
Between the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean, Greenland is geographically located in North America. There are 56,000 people, primarily Indigenous Inuit people, here.
Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, is located 2,900 kilometers (1,800 miles) further away than Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, which is 3,500 kilometers (2, 174 miles) east.
Denmark serves as a NATO-enhanced overseas country with residents who hold EU citizenship.
Its location makes it crucial for US military operations and missile early-warning systems because it has the shortest air and sea routes between North America and Europe. To track movements of Russian and Chinese citizens, Washington has also sought greater radar coverage in the Greenland-Iceland-UK border.
Although there is no oil and gas extraction, and many Indigenous residents oppose large-scale mining, Greenland is rich in minerals, including the majority of the EU’s listed “critical raw materials.” Fishing is a major contributor to the economy.
Major powers are becoming more interested in the Arctic’s untapped resources as climate change increases.
How have the tariff threats posed by Trump affected Europe?
On Sunday, all 27 EU members will convene for an urgent meeting to discuss how to respond to Trump’s threat.
In a response to Keir Starmer, the prime minister of the UK, on Saturday, he wrote: Our position on Greenland is crystal-clear: it belongs to the Danish Kingdom and has a long-term impact on both Greenlanders and Danes, Starmer wrote.
It is completely wrong to impose tariffs on allies in order to protect NATO allies’ collective security. Naturally, we will work with the US administration to pursue this directly. ”
Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, also addressed the issue in an X-post, saying: “The EU stands in full solidarity with Denmark and the people of Greenland. We are committed to continuing the dialogue that the Kingdom of Denmark and the US started last week.
Transatlantic relations would be hampered by tariffs, which could lead to a dangerous downward spiral. Europe will continue to be co-ordinated, united, and committed to upholding its independence. ”
Antonio Costa, president of the European Council, shared a post on his own X account that resembled von der Leyen’s.
China and Russia must be having a field day, according to Kaja Kallas, the EU’s head of foreign policy, on X. They stand to gain from divisions among allies. ”
Kallas continued, “Tariffs could devalue our shared prosperity and make Europe and the United States poorer.” ”
