President Donald Trump has announced tariffs on eight European countries and allies to pressure Denmark into selling Greenland, citing national security concerns. The move, escalating tensions ahead of the Davos forum, has prompted strong backlash from European leaders, who are considering retaliatory measures. A previous US-EU trade deal now hangs in the balance.
President Donald Trump intensified pressure on Europe over Greenland on Saturday, January 17, 2026, by announcing tariffs on goods from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Finland. In a Truth Social post, Trump stated that the tariffs would begin at 10% on February 1 and rise to 25% by June 1, remaining in place until "a Deal is reached for the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland." He described the acquisition as vital for "world peace" and national security, warning that without US control, adversaries like China or Russia could gain strategic advantages in the Arctic.
Trump first floated the idea on Friday during an unrelated White House event on rural health care, saying, "I may put a tariff on countries if they don't go along with Greenland 'cause we need Greenland for national security." The announcement surprised Danish officials, with the foreign minister calling it unexpected. EU ambassadors convened an emergency meeting in Brussels on Sunday to discuss responses.
European leaders swiftly pushed back. Manfred Weber, president of the European People's Party—the largest bloc in the European Parliament with 188 of 720 seats—stated, "The EPP is in favour of the EU–U.S. trade deal, but given Donald Trump’s threats regarding Greenland, approval is not possible at this stage. The 0% tariffs on U.S. products must be put on hold." The deal, secured by Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in July 2025, aimed to eliminate tariffs on US goods to the EU and cap US tariffs on European products at 15%.
French President Emmanuel Macron plans to urge activation of the EU's Anti-Coercion Instrument, a tool allowing restrictions on US intellectual property and investments. Macron's office said, "He will be in contact all day with his European counterparts and will ask, in the name of France, the activation of the Anti-Coercion Instrument."
On the US side, officials defended the strategy. National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett remarked, "The president has a strong view that it’s a national security matter for the U.S. to have more control over Greenland, and I’m confident that in the end, he’s going to negotiate a deal that’s great for us and great for our partners." Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, appearing on NBC's "Meet the Press," emphasized, "This fight for the Arctic is real," noting historical US interest in Greenland and ongoing NATO obligations. He argued that incorporating Greenland into the US would prevent conflicts, as "Europeans project weakness; U.S. projects strength."
The tariffs threaten to derail the 2025 trade agreement and strain transatlantic ties, especially with Trump attending the World Economic Forum in Davos this week, where he may encounter affected leaders. Denmark, which controls Greenland, has reiterated that the territory is not for sale, and Greenlandic leaders have expressed no interest in US control. In response, countries including France, Germany, and Sweden have deployed military units to bolster security there.
