European Leaders Condemn Trump's Tariff Threat Over Greenland Acquisition

Sun Jan 18 2026 01:22:16 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

European leaders have criticized President Trump's proposal to impose tariffs on allies following opposition to his plan to acquire Greenland, calling it unacceptable and a form of intimidation.

President Trump announced a 10% tariff on goods from several European allies in retaliation for their opposition to his proposed acquisition of Greenland. European leaders labelled the move as unacceptable, asserting that security in the Arctic should be a collective effort among NATO allies. Protests erupted in Greenland and Denmark against the proposed US takeover, with citizens affirming their right to self-determination and rejecting Trump's claims.

A threat by President Donald Trump to impose fresh tariffs on eight allies opposed to his proposed takeover of Greenland has drawn condemnation from European leaders.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the move was completely wrong while French President Emmanuel Macron called it unacceptable. Swedish PM Ulf Kristersson stated: We won't let ourselves be blackmailed. The comments came after Trump announced a 10% tariff on goods from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, and Finland, which would come into effect on February 1 and could later rise to 25% until a deal was reached.

Mr. Trump has insisted that the autonomous Danish territory is critical for US security and has not ruled out taking it by force. Meanwhile, protests erupted in Greenland and Denmark against the idea of a US takeover, with citizens rallying to defend their rights and express their opposition to the proposed changes.

European countries have rallied to Denmark's support, arguing that the security of the Arctic region should be a joint NATO responsibility. In response to Trump's tariff announcement, leaders from multiple nations voiced their solidarity for Denmark and criticized the US President's threats.

In Washington's diplomatic and political circles, this announcement has injected a new sense of urgency into the issue and strained relations with important NATO allies and trading partners. Trump's approach indicates his willingness to use tariffs as a tool to coerce other nations into aligning with US interests, which has raised concerns across Europe.

Protests continued across Greenland, particularly in Nuuk, where residents emphasized their right to self-determination. Opinion polls indicate a strong opposition (85%) among Greenlanders to joining the US.