Trump’s Greenland Tariff Threat Sparks Global Outcry

On the icy expanse of Greenland, an international standoff is unfolding that’s as dramatic as the Arctic landscape itself. President Donald Trump’s renewed push to acquire Greenland from Denmark has triggered a cascade of diplomatic tensions, tariff threats, and public protests, drawing in leaders and citizens from both sides of the Atlantic. The episode, which some have called a test of transatlantic unity, has quickly become one of the most contentious geopolitical flashpoints of 2026.

It all began to escalate on January 17, 2026, when President Trump announced that the United States would impose a 10% tariff on goods from eight European allies—including Denmark, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Finland—starting February 1. The tariff, Trump declared, would remain in place, and could rise to 25% by June, unless the US secured a “complete and total purchase of Greenland.” According to Trump, the move wasn’t just about real estate: “We have subsidized Denmark, and all of the Countries of the European Union, and others, for many years by not charging them Tariffs, or any other forms of remuneration. Now, after Centuries, it is time for Denmark to give back — World Peace is at stake!” he wrote on Truth Social, as reported by The Hill.

Trump’s bid to buy Greenland—an autonomous Danish territory with a population of about 56,000—has been met with near-universal opposition from European leaders. Danish officials have flatly stated that Greenland is not for sale, warning that any attack on the territory would spell the end of the NATO alliance. Greenland’s own government echoed this sentiment, insisting it would rather remain Danish than become American. As BBC highlighted, the White House has framed the acquisition as a matter of national security, arguing that Denmark lacks the capacity to defend Greenland from Russia or China. Yet, critics like Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) argue the real motivation is economic. “This is not about security, Jon. This is about a land grab. Donald Trump wants to get his hands on the minerals and other resources of Greenland, just like the real reason he went into Venezuela,” Van Hollen told ABC News.

The minerals beneath Greenland’s thawing ice—rare earths, uranium, and iron—have become increasingly accessible due to climate change, fueling both international interest and local anxiety. Shopkeepers in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, reported a spike in survival gear sales, as residents braced for instability or even military action, according to CNN. In mid-January, about a quarter of Nuuk’s population took to the streets in protest, waving Danish and Greenlandic flags and voicing their opposition to any potential annexation by the United States.

European leaders responded swiftly and in unison. On January 18, the eight countries targeted by Trump’s tariff threat issued a joint statement condemning the move. “The threatened levies undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral,” the statement read, affirming their “full solidarity with the Kingdom of Denmark and the people of Greenland” and their commitment to Arctic security. The BBC noted that the UK sent a military officer to Greenland earlier that week as part of a multinational reconnaissance mission, underscoring the seriousness with which Europe views the situation.

British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer emerged as a key voice in the crisis. After consulting with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Starmer spoke directly with Trump. He told the US president that “applying tariffs on allies for pursuing the collective security of NATO allies is wrong.” Starmer’s intervention was notable, marking a rare public rebuke of an American president with whom he has generally maintained cordial relations. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy added on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg that Trump’s tariff threat was “deeply unhelpful and counterproductive,” calling for an “adult debate” with the White House.

Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron described the threat as “unacceptable,” and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney reaffirmed his commitment to NATO’s responsibility for security in Greenland, insisting that Canada would work with allies to strengthen Arctic security. The European Council, led by President Antonio Costa, announced plans for an extraordinary meeting to address the US-Europe tensions and strategize a collective response.

Within the United States, Trump’s strategy has drawn both support and skepticism. Former Vice President Mike Pence voiced support for acquiring Greenland but questioned the use of tariffs as leverage, expressing concerns about “a questionable constitutional authority, imposing unilateral tariffs on NATO allies to achieve this objective,” as he told CNN. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, on the other hand, insisted that Europe would “understand” America’s proposed control of Greenland as a necessary defense against Russian and Chinese ambitions in the Arctic, describing the island as “essential” to national security on NBC’s Meet the Press.

Congress, too, is weighing its role. Senators Tim Kaine and Rand Paul discussed possible legislative options to limit Trump’s unilateral actions, including a new war powers resolution related to Greenland and measures to challenge the president’s tariff authority. Kaine warned that Trump’s rhetoric was “pushing allies away from us, rather than forging the stronger relationships with allies that we need.” Paul, for his part, doubted that military action would find support even among the most hawkish Republicans, stating, “I’ve heard of no Republican support for that.”

While the US already maintains a missile-monitoring station in Greenland with more than 100 military personnel, the prospect of an American takeover has alarmed both Greenlanders and European allies. Locals in Nuuk told reporters they felt threatened by the US president’s repeated overtures. “Trump is out of his mind, really. He is losing his mind. Well, he lost (it) a long time ago,” pensioner Jens Kjeldsen told Reuters. Nurse Lisa Jorgensen added, “We have a lot of allies and now they are stepping up and they come here to Greenland, the soldiers, but also the leaders are beginning to… step up and support us.”

As the diplomatic standoff intensifies, the world watches to see if negotiation, pressure, or unity among allies will prevail over coercion. The fate of Greenland—remote, resource-rich, and now at the heart of global politics—remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: the island’s future will not be decided without a fight.