Overview
- The president announced a 10% levy on imports from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland starting February 1, rising to 25% on June 1, to remain until a deal for the “full and absolute” purchase of Greenland is reached.
- Trump and White House deputy Stephen Miller argued Denmark cannot defend or control Greenland and cited the threat of Russian and Chinese interest; Trump also linked U.S. plans to deploy a Golden Dome missile-defense system to securing control of the island.
- European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned the tariffs would damage transatlantic relations, while Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden said they were coordinating a joint response and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the move “completely wrong.”
- Denmark said it is strengthening its military presence in Greenland and leading multinational drills under the Arctic Resilience banner, with several European partners contributing small contingents, including Slovenia sending two soldiers.
- U.S. Permanent Representative to the UN Mike Waltz said efforts to acquire Greenland are lawful as a negotiated transaction, while former national security adviser John Bolton cautioned that any U.S. military operation there would effectively end NATO.