Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Washington, United States — President Donald Trump said on Friday that he may impose trade tariffs on countries that oppose his bid to take control of Greenland, a move that has sharply escalated diplomatic pressure on Denmark and U.S. allies over the strategically crucial Arctic territory. The comments signal a new front in Trump’s controversial campaign to bring Greenland — a semiautonomous region of the Kingdom of Denmark — under U.S. influence, raising concerns among European capitals and prompting efforts to calm transatlantic tensions.
Speaking at a White House roundtable event on rural health care, Trump said the United States could wield economic leverage, including tariffs, against nations that do not align with Washington’s ambitions for Greenland. “I may put a tariff on countries if they don’t go along with Greenland, because we need Greenland for national security,” he told reporters, linking the potential trade measures directly to his broader Arctic strategy.
Trump has repeatedly framed Greenland as vital to U.S. national security, citing its geographic position in the Arctic and concerns about rival powers such as China and Russia gaining influence in the region. He has argued that U.S. control of the island — which hosts significant untapped mineral resources and strategic military value — would bolster American defense capabilities.
The threat of tariffs marks a significant intensification of Trump’s rhetoric. While past U.S. administrations have deployed sanctions and tariffs for geopolitical leverage, using them to press foreign governments to back acquisition of sovereign territory represents a highly unconventional foreign policy stance. Trump made clear he was drawing on precedents from his previous term, noting his prior use of tariff threats against European nations over pharmaceutical pricing and suggesting a similar tool could be applied to Greenland diplomacy.
Greenland, with a population of about 57,000, lies northeast of Canada and is part of the Kingdom of Denmark. It enjoys extensive autonomy under Danish sovereignty and is a member of NATO through the Danish realm. Denmark has firmly rejected Trump’s push, with its leaders reiterating that Greenland’s destiny is for its people and the Danish state to determine. Danish and Greenlandic officials have maintained that the Arctic island is not for sale and that any discussion of control must respect international law and sovereignty.
European allies have responded to Trump’s remarks with unease and pushback. Foreign ministers from Denmark and Greenland met earlier this week in Washington with U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, but the talks failed to resolve disagreements over the island’s future. European leaders have stressed that decisions regarding Greenland’s status should be made only with the consent of Denmark and Greenland, and not through coercive measures.
In Copenhagen, a bipartisan U.S. congressional delegation — including lawmakers from both major parties — has been working to lower diplomatic temperatures and affirm long‑standing alliances with Denmark and Greenland. Delegation members emphasized the importance of treating Greenland as a trusted ally, not an asset to be acquired, and reiterated support for sovereignty and collaboration.
Critics of Trump’s position warn that threats of tariffs tied to territorial ambitions could strain relations with NATO allies and destabilize long‑standing cooperation frameworks in Europe. Any punitive trade measures against key partners could reverberate through existing trade agreements, complicate cooperation on defense and climate initiatives, and spark retaliatory actions from affected nations.
Despite the firm resistance from Denmark, Greenland’s leadership, and many U.S. lawmakers, Trump’s comments underscore how the once‑fringe idea of acquiring Greenland has entered mainstream geopolitical debate in 2026. Analysts note that the Arctic’s strategic importance has increased as melting ice opens new shipping lanes and access to critical mineral resources essential for advanced technologies, intensifying global competition for influence in the region.
As discussions continue and diplomatic pressure mounts, Greenland’s status remains a delicate matter at the crossroads of security, sovereignty and transatlantic relations. Trump’s tariff threat — while not yet translated into formal policy — highlights the unpredictable dynamics shaping global geopolitics around the Arctic in the early months of 2026.
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