President Donald Trump mentioned on Saturday that the NATO international locations who have sent small contingents of troops to Greenland amid the White Home’s push to accumulate the island will probably be charged a ten% tariff on all items despatched to the USA beginning on Feb. 1.
The tariffs on Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands and Finland will then improve to 25% on June 1, till the U.S. is ready to buy Greenland, in line with the president.
Greenland is a self-governing territory of the Kingdom of Denmark.
“This can be a very harmful state of affairs for the Security, Safety, and Survival of our Planet. These International locations, who’re enjoying this very harmful sport, have put a degree of danger in play that’s not tenable or sustainable,” Trump posted on social media.
President Donald Trump speaks throughout an interview with Reuters within the Oval Workplace within the White Home in Washington, January 14, 2026.
Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters
Trump, in his publish, repeated his declare that China and Russia would threaten to take Greenland if the U.S. doesn’t. He claimed Denmark can’t defend Greenland.
“Solely the USA of America, underneath PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP, can play on this sport, and really efficiently, at that!” he mentioned within the publish.
Some leaders from the focused international locations slammed Trump over his tariff threats.
“France is dedicated to the sovereignty and independence of Nations,” French President Emmanuel Macron mentioned in an announcement Saturday, including that “no intimidation nor risk will affect us, neither in Ukraine, nor in Greenland, nor anyplace else on this planet after we are confronted with such conditions.”
“Tariff threats are unacceptable and haven’t any place on this context. Europeans will reply to them in a united and coordinated method in the event that they have been to be confirmed. We are going to know how you can uphold European sovereignty,” Macron mentioned.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer mentioned in an announcement that “Making use of tariffs on allies for pursuing the collective safety of NATO allies is totally mistaken.”
“Our place on Greenland may be very clear – it’s a part of the Kingdom of Denmark and its future is a matter for the Greenlanders and the Danes,” he mentioned.
This aerial view reveals individuals as they participate in an illustration that gathered nearly a 3rd of town inhabitants to protest towards the US President’s plans to take Greenland, Jan. 17, 2026, in Nuuk, Greenland.
Mads Schmidt Rasmussen/Arctic Artistic/AFP through Getty
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson mentioned in an announcement Saturday that discussions are being had between the international locations for a coordinated response.
“We won’t let ourselves be blackmailed. Solely Denmark and Greenland resolve on points regarding Denmark and Greenland,” he mentioned. “I’ll at all times rise up for my nation, and for our allied neighbors.”
Trump has mentioned he would think about taking Greenland by power as an choice to accumulate the land.
Leaders from Greenland and Denmark, which governs worldwide issues for the nation, have repeatedly mentioned Greenland shouldn’t be on the market.
“It is clear that the president has this want of conquering over Greenland,” Danish Overseas Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen advised reporters after assembly with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio Wednesday.
The Greenlandic flag flies over homes, Jan. 17, 2026, in Nuuk, Greenland.
Sean Gallup/Getty Photographs
Rasmussen known as that end result “completely unacceptable.”
Rasmussen mentioned Saturday that the president’s risk got here as a shock as he mentioned that he had a constructive speak with Vance and Rubio.
A number of leaders from European nations, together with France and Germany, have slammed Trump’s rhetoric and despatched navy forces to Greenland this week as a part of coaching workouts launched by the Danish navy.
Troopers of the Bundeswehr, the German armed forces, arrive at Nuuk Airport, January 16, 2026 in Nuuk, Greenland.
Sean Gallup/Getty Photographs
“The aim of the elevated navy presence in Greenland, to which the President refers, is to reinforce safety within the Arctic,” Rasmussen mentioned in an announcement.
Trump’s controversial plan to accumulate Greenland has been met with disapproval on the island, the place protests towards the U.S. have taken place.
On Saturday, large crowds hit the streets in Greenland lashing out at Trump over his proposal. A big crowd of protesters performed a “Cease Trump” march by the streets of Nuuk.
Trump’s proposal has additionally not sat effectively amongst many People the place individuals and leaders throughout the aisle have spoken out towards the concept of buying Greenland.
A Quinnipiac University poll discovered 55% of voters are against the USA attempting to purchase Greenland, with majorities of Democratic voters (85%) and Impartial voters (58%) opposed and a majority of Republican voters in assist (67%).
On Friday, a bipartisan group of Home members and senators traveled to Greenland and mentioned that they had “constructive” conversations with members of Denmark’s parliament.
U.S. Sens. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., and Thom Tillis, R-N.C., who have been a part of the delegation, launched an announcement Saturday warning that the tariff risk will damage the U.S.’s relationships with its European counterparts.
“There isn’t a want, or need, for a pricey acquisition or hostile navy takeover of Greenland when our Danish and Greenlandic allies are wanting to work with us on Arctic safety, vital minerals and different priorities underneath the framework of long-standing treaties,” the lawmakers mentioned within the assertion.
Individuals maintain Greenlandic flags and placards as they collect to march in protest towards President Donald Trump and his introduced intent to accumulate Greenland, Jan. 17, 2026, in Nuuk, Greenland.
Sean Gallup/Getty Photographs
“Persevering with down this path is dangerous for America, dangerous for American companies and dangerous for America’s allies. This sort of rhetoric additionally additional helps adversaries like Putin and Xi who need to see NATO divided. Our allies deserve higher, and so do the American individuals who have made their opposition to this flawed coverage resoundingly clear,” the senators added.
The delegation mentioned the go to was to nurture the connection between Denmark, Greenland and the USA and to reassure NATO companions that many members of Congress don’t assist any effort by the USA to accumulate Greenland.
Trump’s tariffs have been hit with lawsuits which have been appealed all the way in which the Supreme Court docket. It’s not identified when the excessive court docket will rule on the case.
-ABC Information’ Victoria Beaule, Chris Boccia and Rashid Haddou contributed to this report
