The US has threatened to impose 10% tariffs on eight European countries over the status of Greenland, a move that is sparking alarm across the continent. President Trump's announcement comes as thousands of Greenlanders protested outside the US Consulate in Nuuk, highlighting tensions between the US and Denmark over the island's future.
European leaders are warning that the tariffs would undermine transatlantic relations and risk a "dangerous downward spiral". NATO allies Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, and Finland would face the tariff. The EU has issued a joint statement condemning the threat and promising to defend its interests.
Critics are pointing out that imposing tariffs on European countries over Greenland is an unusual move. "Even if he is found to have tariff authority, I don't believe he has the ability to impose tariffs for the purposes of compelling other nations to sell the United States land," said US Republican Rep Mike Turner. The US has no strategic interest in Greenland, which is a semiautonomous territory of Denmark.
The European Union's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas believes that China and Russia will benefit from the divisions between the US and Europe. "If Greenland's security is at risk, we can address this inside NATO," she said. Meanwhile, Democratic Sen Mark Warner warned that Mr Trump's move would make Americans "pay more to try to get territory we don't need".
A CBS News poll found widespread opposition among Americans to buying Greenland or taking it by military force. The tariffs announcement has also drawn criticism from US allies in Europe. Italy's right-wing Premier Giorgia Meloni called the threat "a mistake". Britain's main political parties, including the hard-right Reform UK party and the centre-left Labour Party, have all criticized Mr Trump's design on Greenland.
The situation remains tense, with the EU ready to take action to defend its interests. The Anti-Coercion Instrument (ACI), known as the "trade bazooka", could be invoked to curb imports of goods and services into the EU.
European leaders are warning that the tariffs would undermine transatlantic relations and risk a "dangerous downward spiral". NATO allies Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, and Finland would face the tariff. The EU has issued a joint statement condemning the threat and promising to defend its interests.
Critics are pointing out that imposing tariffs on European countries over Greenland is an unusual move. "Even if he is found to have tariff authority, I don't believe he has the ability to impose tariffs for the purposes of compelling other nations to sell the United States land," said US Republican Rep Mike Turner. The US has no strategic interest in Greenland, which is a semiautonomous territory of Denmark.
The European Union's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas believes that China and Russia will benefit from the divisions between the US and Europe. "If Greenland's security is at risk, we can address this inside NATO," she said. Meanwhile, Democratic Sen Mark Warner warned that Mr Trump's move would make Americans "pay more to try to get territory we don't need".
A CBS News poll found widespread opposition among Americans to buying Greenland or taking it by military force. The tariffs announcement has also drawn criticism from US allies in Europe. Italy's right-wing Premier Giorgia Meloni called the threat "a mistake". Britain's main political parties, including the hard-right Reform UK party and the centre-left Labour Party, have all criticized Mr Trump's design on Greenland.
The situation remains tense, with the EU ready to take action to defend its interests. The Anti-Coercion Instrument (ACI), known as the "trade bazooka", could be invoked to curb imports of goods and services into the EU.
can you believe trump is trying to impose tariffs on all those europeans over greenland? like what even is that about lol 
he's really going for it with this one... i'm kinda surprised america hasnt got a strategic interest in greenland idk but anyway eu leaders are being super calm about it 
but china and russia will probs just love this whole situation btw they were already eyeing our bases 
the us is just throwing good money after bad with this one mark warner is like the voice of reason here tho 
and can we talk about how much americans dont wanna pay for greenland lol 
what's going on over there?
, US is threatening 10% tariffs on Europe just cuz Greenland has some major strategic importance for Denmark?! 
they're probably all "cool, let the West implode" 
. The EU is like "Nah bruh we gotchu" 
and they're ready to unleash that ACI 
. It's gonna be super chill there, totally no reason for this drama... except maybe Trump wants to make America look like a big ol' baby? 
who am I right tho? 
America's got no strategic interest in it, right? 
It's gonna hurt a lot of people & businesses across the continent 
. I'm surprised US didn't think it through before making such bold move 
. It looks like China & Russia might just gain from all this drama 
. EU needs to take a strong stance here 
I mean it's just a tiny island that Denmark takes care of anyway. It's not like the US needs to control it or anything.
. Even Rep Mike Turner said it was a weird move... can't say I blame Italy's Giorgia Meloni calling it a mistake 
. The ACI is looking more and more relevant here... gotta hope EU leaders are ready to defend their interests 
. This whole thing over Greenland is just a distraction from the real issues, right? I mean, who cares about some island in the middle of nowhere? It's like the US is trying to prove something, but what exactly are they trying to achieve? The tariffs move is just going to hurt everyone involved - Europe, China, Russia... it's all just a mess. 
The whole thing is just a power play, and I'm not buying it. Can we please just focus on something else? 
EU's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said china & russia will benefit from this whole thing & i'm like yeah what else can go wrong lol? also theres this rep Mike Turner who's all like trump doesn't have the power to do that and i'm over here thinking same bro 
. I mean, come on Trump, don't be like that 
The CBS News poll said most people in the US were against buying Greenland or taking it by force. That's pretty clear, right? 
the eu is like "nope, we got this" and they're preparing for a trade war. china and russia will be laughing all the way to the bank 
when they see us gettin' worked over by trump's tantrum. and what's with the whole american public not wanting greenland? maybe it's cuz u guys don't wanna deal w/ the drama that comes w/ it! 
. We need to get back to being allies and working together on global issues, not resorting to protectionism and tariffs.
plus, europe all against it 
not sure what's goin on in trump's head tho, but i think he's just tryna stir up trouble 
? It's like, what's really going on here? Is it just about keeping America's territorial claims intact or are there other factors at play? 
. And honestly, who needs Greenland anyway? It's like the US is trying to flex its muscles again 
. Time will tell what happens next in this drama