This is a surprise announcement that has now injected a newfound sense of urgency into the issue of Greenland,
Donald Trump announces plans to hit the UK, Denmark and other European countries with a 10% tariff on “all or any goods” exported to the US from 1 February
In a post on Truth Social, the US president says these will remain in place until “such time as a Deal is reached for the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland”Donald Trump has set out his plan to impose rising tariffs on eight European countries until the US is allowed to purchase Greenland. Under the measures, an initial 10% levy will rise to 25% in June. TheHill.com
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Trump announces 10 percent tariffs on Denmark, allies amid Greenland turmoil.
President Trump announced Saturday that he will implement a 10 percent tariff on Denmark and its European allies starting next month, ratcheting up the pressure in his bid to acquire Greenland.
“We have subsidized Denmark, and all of the Countries of the European Union, and others, for many years by not charging them Tariffs, or any other forms of remuneration. Now, after Centuries, it is time for Denmark to give back — World Peace is at stake!” Trump wrote on Truth Social..
The president said that the new import taxes, which apply to Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland, will start at 10 percent on Feb. 1 and increase to 25 percent on June 1.
He added that the levies “will be due and payable until such time as a Deal is reached for the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland,” saying the U.S. had been “trying to do this transaction for over 150 years” but Denmark refused.
“Now, because of The Golden Dome, and Modern Day Weapons Systems, both Offensive and Defensive, the need to ACQUIRE is especially important,” the president wrote.
The announcement comes just days after troops from several European countries, including France and Sweden, arrived in Greenland to participate in joint exercises organized by Denmark, as Trump’s calls for U.S. control of the Arctic territory intensify. The Danish government has also boosted its own military presence in and around the country.
“These Countries, who are playing this very dangerous game, have put a level of risk in play that is not tenable or sustainable,” Trump wrote Saturday. “Therefore, it is imperative that, in order to protect Global Peace and Security, strong measures must be taken so that this potentially perilous situation end quickly, and without question.”
The president and other senior U.S. officials have argued that the island must come under U.S. ownership, citing its strategic location as vital to protect national security interests and thwart threats from Russia and China in the Arctic region.
Vice President Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed those concerns in a meeting with Greenlandic Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt and Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen at the White House on Wednesday.
Rasmussen later described the meeting as a “brilliant opportunity for us to share our view with our American friends,” but said there was disagreement between the two countries on the path forward.
““We share, you know, the challenges linked to the situation in the Arctic,” the foreign ministry told Fox News. “We didn’t agree that it can only be achieved if [the] U.S. conquer[s] Greenland.”
Trump said Saturday there was “not a thing” Denmark could do about China and Russia’s perceived aspirations in the region.
“Only the United States of America, under PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP, can play in this game, and very successfully, at that!” he wrote. “Nobody will touch this sacred piece of Land, especially since the National Security of the United States, and the World at large, is at stake.”
The Trump administration has not ruled out the possibility of using military force inside Greenland, despite strong opposition from Americans and warnings from Denmark, its allies, and some Republicans that such action could spell the end of the longstanding NATO alliance.
Trump concluded that the U.S. was “immediately open to negotiation” with Denmark or any other European country.Macron says ‘tariff threats are unacceptable’ and insists Europe will respond ‘united’
French President Emmanuel Macron has hit back at Donald Trump over his tariff threat.
“France is committed to the sovereignty and independence of nations, in Europe as elsewhere,” he says in a post on social media.
“This guides our choices. It underpins our attachment to the United Nations and to our Charter.”
Macron says “it is on this basis that we support and will continue to support Ukraine”.
He continues: “It is also on this basis that we have decided to join the exercise decided by Denmark in Greenland. We stand by this decision. Especially because it concerns security in the Arctic and at the frontiers of our Europe.”
Macron says European leaders won’t be influenced by intimidation or threat.
“Tariff threats are unacceptable and have no place in this context, he adds.
“Europeans will respond to them in a united and coordinated manner if they were to be confirmed. We will know how to uphold European sovereignty.
“It is in this spirit that I will speak with our European partners.”
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