President Donald Trump escalated a diplomatic showdown over Greenland on Saturday, announcing a new round of tariffs against several European nations that oppose U.S. efforts to acquire the Arctic territory. Trump said the United States will impose a 10 percent tariff on goods from Denmark and seven other European countries, citing what he described as an urgent national security threat tied to Greenland’s strategic location, Breitbart News reported.
Writing on Truth Social, the president warned that “world peace is at stake,” arguing that China and Russia are seeking influence over Greenland and that Denmark lacks the capacity to defend the territory.
“China and Russia want Greenland, and there is not a thing that Denmark can do about it,” Trump wrote.
Trump mocked Denmark’s military capabilities, quipping that Copenhagen has “two dogsleds” to protect Greenland, which has been under Danish control since the 18th century.
He argued that only the United States has the resources and strategic reach to secure the island and counter growing geopolitical threats in the Arctic.
“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,” Trump wrote. “Now, after centuries, it is time for Denmark to give back.”
The tariffs will apply not only to Denmark but also to Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, all of which have pledged to deploy military forces to Greenland in support of Danish sovereignty.
Trump said those actions have dangerously escalated tensions.
“This is a very dangerous situation for the safety, security, and survival of our planet,” he wrote. “These countries have put a level of risk in play that is not tenable or sustainable.”
The new tariffs are expected to be added to existing trade measures, including a 15 percent baseline tariff negotiated earlier this year with the European Union and a 10 percent baseline tariff already in place for Britain.
Trump warned that if the Greenland dispute is not resolved by June, the new 10 percent tariff will be increased to 25 percent.
The president said previous U.S. administrations had unsuccessfully pursued control of Greenland for more than 150 years, but argued that the island’s importance to modern defense systems makes continued inaction unacceptable.
Trump cited Greenland’s role in next generation missile defense infrastructure, including the Golden Dome missile defense system, which he said requires Greenland’s geography to operate effectively.
“Hundreds of billions of dollars are currently being spent on security programs having to do with ‘The Dome,’” Trump wrote, adding that the system’s effectiveness depends on specific angles, measurements, and territorial boundaries that include Greenland.
Trump said the United States remains open to negotiations with Denmark and its European allies, despite what he described as decades of American protection and support.
“We are immediately open to negotiation with Denmark and or any of these countries that have put so much at risk,” he wrote.
Danish and Greenlandic officials have so far rejected the idea of transferring control of Greenland to the United States.
However, it remains unclear whether their position could change if Washington presents a formal compensation proposal for Denmark and Greenland’s approximately 57,000 residents.
Officials from the United States, Denmark, and Greenland held an initial meeting at the White House this week, chaired by Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
While the parties agreed to continue high-level discussions, Danish officials told local media that a “fundamental disagreement” remains unresolved.
