US President Donald Trump has threatened to impose trade tariffs on countries that refuse to support his plan to take over Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory under NATO ally Denmark. Speaking at a White House health roundtable on Friday, Trump said backing Greenland was vital to US national security and warned that economic penalties could follow for nations that disagree.
Trump likened the potential tariffs to earlier threats he made against France and Germany over pharmaceutical pricing. The comments mark a fresh escalation in his long-standing push to acquire the mineral-rich Arctic island, a goal he has previously suggested could be pursued by military force if necessary.
The president argues that Greenland is strategically important and has accused it of failing to adequately protect itself from growing Russian and Chinese influence. In response, several European countries have voiced support for Denmark and Greenland, with some even deploying troops to the region.
Meanwhile, a bipartisan US congressional delegation arrived in Copenhagen on Friday to reaffirm support for Denmark and Greenland. Although Danish and Greenlandic foreign ministers met Trump at the White House earlier this week in an attempt to ease tensions, they later admitted there was still a “fundamental disagreement.” However, all sides agreed to establish a working group to continue discussions every two to three weeks.
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