Danish Foreign Minister Lars Leke Rasmussen said today that United States President Donald Trump's statement on tariffs on imports from eight European countries comes as a surprise.
"The President's statement comes as a surprise. Earlier this week we had a constructive meeting with Vice President Vance and Secretary Rubio. The purpose of the increased military presence in Greenland, which the President is calling for, is to improve security in the Arctic," Rasmussen said on the X network, the BBC reports.
He added: "We agree with the US that we need to do more, because the Arctic is no longer an area of low tension. That is precisely why we and our NATO partners are stepping up activities, with full transparency towards our American allies."
The BBC reports that Rasmussen was in Washington this week to discuss Greenland with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President J.D. Vance.
Rasmussen returned to Copenhagen yesterday, and now he is faced with a new escalation over Arctic territory initiated by Donald Trump.
Trump announced earlier today that he would impose a 10 percent tariff on goods imported from eight European countries starting in February, due to opposition to Washington's treatment of Greenland, Beta news agency reports.
He announced in a post on his social network Truth Social that Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland will face new tariffs, which will be increased to 25 percent from June 1 if an agreement is not reached on the US's "complete and complete purchase of Greenland."
DON'T MISS IT
Bonus video:
