U.S. President Donald Trump has ignited fury in Europe with threats of heavy import duties on eight NATO allies unless Denmark hands over Greenland. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen responded defiantly, declaring “Europe won’t be blackmailed.”
The duties, detailed on Truth Social Saturday, start at 10% from 1 February on goods from Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the UK, possibly rising to 25% by June.
Trump ties their end to a “Deal… for the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland”, claiming NATO pressed Denmark for years to curb Russian threats near the island, insisting “Now it is time, and it will be done!!!”
Frederiksen and the eight leaders issued a Sunday statement offering “full solidarity with the Kingdom of Denmark and the people of Greenland.” They cautioned tariffs could undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral but affirmed commitment to Arctic security and dialogue on principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity.
On Facebook, Frederiksen added, “We want to cooperate and we are not the ones seeking conflict. And I am happy for the consistent messages from the rest of the continent: Europe will not be blackmailed.” She urged upholding “fundamental values that created the European community.”
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent claimed on NBC that “Greenland can only be defended if it is part of the U.S., and it will not need to be defended if it is part of the U.S.” UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer called the plan “completely wrong”; Norway’s Espen Barth Eide stressed sovereignty as “non-negotiable.”
Protests rocked Nuuk and Danish cities as polls show 85% of Greenlanders and most Americans oppose U.S. control.