Trump Threatens Tariffs Over Greenland Pushback

A bipartisan US congressional delegation arrived in Copenhagen on Friday to reassure leaders of Denmark and Greenland amid threats from US President Donald Trump to seize the Arctic island. The delegation, led by Delaware Democratic Senator Chris Coons, met with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and her Greenlandic counterpart Jens-Frederik Nielsen.

US Delegation Seeks to ‘Lower Temperature’

Coons said the delegation was aiming to “lower the temperature.” “There’s a lot of rhetoric, but there’s not a lot of reality in the current discussion in Washington,” Coons told reporters following the meetings. Democratic Senator Dick Durbin added that the visit showed bipartisan solidarity with the people of Denmark and Greenland, stating, “They’ve been our friends and allies for decades. We want them to know we appreciate that very much. And the statements being made by the president do not reflect what the American people feel.” A Reuters/Ipsos poll found that only 17% of Americans support Trump’s designs on Greenland.

Trump Continues to Pursue Greenland Acquisition

Trump has rattled ties with Denmark, a longstanding US NATO ally, by continuing to insist Greenland come under US control, claiming the move is needed to ensure the strategic island’s security. This week, several European countries deployed troops to Greenland to take part in military exercises to demonstrate a move towards bolstering NATO’s Arctic strategy. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told a briefing Friday that troops in Europe do not impact the president’s decision-making process or his goal of acquiring Greenland.

Tariff Threats and European Response

Speaking on Friday, President Trump suggested he may impose tariffs on countries that do not support his pursuit of Greenland, stating, “I may put a tariff on countries if they don’t go along with Greenland, because we need Greenland for national security.”

Italy has refused to participate in a European reconnaissance mission to Greenland, with Defense Minister Guido Crosetto openly mocking the initiative. Crosetto said, “Greenland. I wonder what for? A trip?…Fifteen Italians, 15 French, 15 Germans — it sounds like the start of a joke.”

Military Deployments and US Envoy

As part of a Danish-led reconnaissance mission, a German reconnaissance unit landed in Greenland on Friday evening. The mission aims to analyze how NATO partners can keep the Arctic safe and assess Germany’s potential contribution.

US special envoy to Greenland, Jeff Landry, said he plans to visit the territory in March and believes a deal can be made. “I do believe that there’s a deal that should and will be made once this plays out,” Landry told Fox News. He also stated that the president is serious about acquiring Greenland.

Retired US general Ben Hodges said he doesn’t believe the US would invade Greenland, calling it “one of the stupidest own goals by America in the last century.”