United States President Donald Trump said today that he will 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."
"World peace is at stake! China wants Greenland, and Denmark can't do anything about it," Trump said.
He added that Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, Great Britain, the Netherlands and Finland "traveled to Greenland for unknown purposes and are playing a very dangerous game."
"Strong action must be taken" to end this "potentially dangerous situation quickly and without question," Trump added.
Earlier today, demonstrations were held in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, as well as in Copenhagen, in support of the island.
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Reuters reported earlier today that Trump has vowed to impose tariffs on European allies until the United States is allowed to buy Greenland.
Reuters reported that in a post on the Truth Social network, Trump said that the 10 percent tariffs would take effect on February 1 for Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland.
Those tariffs would rise to 25 percent on June 1 and remain in effect until a deal is reached for the U.S. to buy Greenland, Trump said.
Reuters reports that Trump has repeatedly said that Greenland is crucial to US security due to its strategic location and large mineral deposits, and that he has not ruled out the use of force to take it over.
European countries sent military personnel to the island this week, at Denmark's request.
"These countries, playing this very dangerous game, have brought into play a level of risk that is neither tolerable nor sustainable. The United States is immediately open to negotiations with Denmark and/or any of these countries that have put so much at risk, despite everything we have done for them, including maximum protection, for so many decades," Trump said, according to Reuters.
The agency reports that demonstrators in Denmark and Greenland protested today against Trump's demands and called for Greenland to be allowed to decide its own future.
The Associated Press (AP) reported earlier today that Trump suggested yesterday that he could punish countries with tariffs if they do not support his plan for the US to take control of Greenland.
This, as the AP writes, is a message that came at a time when a bipartisan delegation from the US Congress was trying to reduce tensions in the Danish capital.
Trump has insisted for months that the US should control Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of NATO ally Denmark, and earlier this week said anything less than the Arctic island being in American hands would be "unacceptable."
During a White House event dedicated to rural healthcare, Trump recalled yesterday how he had threatened European allies with tariffs on pharmaceutical products.
"I might do it for Greenland. I could put tariffs on countries if they don't agree on Greenland, because we need Greenland for national security. So I could do that," Trump said, according to the AP.
He had not previously mentioned using tariffs as a means of pressure to impose the issue.
Earlier this week, the foreign ministers of Denmark and Greenland met in Washington with US Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
That meeting did not resolve deep differences, but it did result in an agreement to form a working group — the purpose of which was subsequently presented to the public in very different ways by Denmark and the White House.
European leaders insist that only Denmark and Greenland can decide on issues concerning the territory, and Denmark announced this week that it is increasing its military presence in Greenland in cooperation with its allies.
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