President Donald Trump’s threat to impose new tariffs on eight European allies over their opposition to a proposed United States takeover of Greenland triggered swift condemnation from leaders across Europe on Sunday, raising fresh tensions inside NATO and unsettling transatlantic trade ties.
The White House said a 10 percent tariff on goods from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Finland would take effect on February 1. Trump warned the duties could rise to 25 percent and remain in place until Washington is allowed to acquire Greenland.
The move marks a sharp escalation in Trump’s renewed push to gain control of the autonomous Danish territory, which he has described as strategically vital to American security interests.
European officials reacted with rare public unity. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the threat was “completely wrong,” while French President Emmanuel Macron called it “unacceptable,” according to statements carried by Reuters.
European Council President Antonio Costa said the bloc would defend international law and territorial integrity. “That principle begins within the territory of the member states of the European Union,” Costa said.
Denmark’s foreign minister, Lars Lokke Rasmussen, said the announcement came as a surprise, particularly after recent diplomatic talks aimed at easing tensions.
In response, the European Union called an emergency meeting of ambassadors from all 27 member states in Brussels later on Sunday, Reuters reported.
Thousands of protesters gathered in Denmark and Greenland on Saturday, rejecting the idea of a US takeover and calling for Greenlanders to determine their own future.
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Greenland, while sparsely populated, is rich in minerals and occupies a strategic position between North America and the Arctic. Defense analysts say its location is critical for missile warning systems and monitoring maritime traffic in the region.
Trump has repeatedly argued that Greenland is essential for US security and has said Washington could obtain it “the easy way or the hard way,” without ruling out the use of force.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas warned that the dispute could benefit Washington’s geopolitical rivals. “China and Russia must be having a field day,” she wrote on X, saying divisions among allies only strengthen adversaries.
The tariff threat has also cast doubt on a pending EU US trade agreement negotiated last year. The deal set a 15 percent US tariff on European goods while granting zero percent tariffs on certain American exports to Europe.
German and Nordic officials have also warned that linking trade penalties to territorial demands undermines trust within NATO.
US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz defended the administration’s position, saying Denmark lacked the capacity to manage security challenges in the Arctic. Speaking to Fox News, he said Greenlanders would be “safer, stronger, and more prosperous under the umbrella of the United States.”
Trump has long described tariffs as a preferred tool for shaping foreign policy, using them to pressure both rivals and allies.
Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said he plans to introduce a resolution to block the tariffs. “Trump is manufacturing a foreign crisis and sabotaging our closest alliance,” Meeks said, arguing the focus should be on domestic economic concerns.
