US President Donald Trump has triggered a fresh diplomatic storm after threatening to impose new tariffs on eight European allies opposing his proposed takeover of Greenland, drawing sharp condemnation from leaders across Europe.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer branded the move “completely wrong,” while French President Emmanuel Macron described it as “unacceptable,” as tensions escalated over Washington’s increasingly aggressive stance toward the autonomous Danish territory.
Trump announced that a 10% tariff on goods from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland would take effect from 1 February, warning the rate could later rise to 25% and remain in place until a deal is reached.
The US president has repeatedly argued that Greenland is vital to American national security, citing its strategic Arctic location, and has refused to rule out the use of force to secure control of the territory.
In response to Trump’s remarks, the European Union called an emergency meeting in Brussels, scheduled for Sunday at 17:00 local time, bringing together ambassadors from all 27 member states, according to Reuters.
Public opposition has also intensified. Thousands of protesters marched in Greenland and Denmark on Saturday, rejecting the idea of a US takeover and defending Greenland’s sovereignty.
Although sparsely populated, Greenland is rich in natural resources and occupies a critical position between North America and the Arctic. The territory is seen as strategically important for missile early-warning systems, Arctic surveillance, and monitoring military and commercial vessels in the region.
Trump has previously warned that the United States would obtain Greenland “the easy way or the hard way,” language that has further alarmed European allies and deepened concerns over a widening transatlantic rift.
