Trump threatens tariffs on countries opposing Greenland takeover

US President Donald Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on countries that oppose his stated ambition to bring Greenland under US control, escalating tensions with allies, particularly Denmark.

Speaking at a White House meeting on Friday (16 January), Trump said he "may put a tariff on countries if they don't go along with Greenland," describing the self-governing territory, which is controlled by Denmark, as vital for US national security. He did not specify which countries could face tariffs or under what legal authority such measures would be imposed.

Trump reiterated that the United States needs Greenland for security reasons and said the country could acquire it "the easy way" or "the hard way," a remark widely interpreted as a reference to either purchasing the island or using force, reports BBC.

His comments came as a bipartisan US congressional delegation was visiting Greenland to show support for the territory amid growing international concern over Trump's rhetoric. The 11-member delegation met Greenlandic lawmakers as well as Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland's Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen.

The delegation included both Democrats and Republicans, some of whom expressed unease over Trump's annexation remarks. Senator Chris Coons, who led the group, said the visit aimed to listen to Greenlanders and convey their views back to Washington "to lower the temperature."

Greenland, though sparsely populated, is resource-rich and strategically located between North America and the Arctic, making it important for missile early-warning systems and regional surveillance. The US already maintains more than 100 troops at its Pituffik Space Base, operated since World War II, and existing agreements with Denmark allow Washington to deploy additional forces if needed.

However, Trump has argued that US ownership of Greenland is necessary to counter potential threats from Russia and China. Denmark has warned that any US military action against Greenland would undermine Nato, whose core principle is collective defence among allies.

European allies have rallied behind Denmark, stressing that Arctic security should remain a shared Nato responsibility. Countries including France, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Finland, the Netherlands, and the UK have sent limited troop deployments to Greenland as part of reconnaissance missions. French President Emmanuel Macron said France would soon send land, air, and sea assets.

Greenlandic MP Aaja Chemnitz said talks with US lawmakers had given her hope but cautioned that pressure from Washington has been ongoing since 2019. "It's a marathon, not a short sprint," she told the BBC. "It's changing almost hour by hour."

Meanwhile, divisions remain within the US Congress. Senator Lisa Murkowski is sponsoring a bipartisan bill aimed at blocking any attempt to annex Greenland, while a Republican congressman has introduced separate legislation supporting annexation.

Trump's envoy to Greenland, Jeff Landry, said Washington should negotiate directly with Greenland's leaders rather than Denmark and claimed a deal was possible. "The president is serious," Landry said in a Fox News interview, adding that senior US officials would work to advance discussions.