Greenland expressed gratitude to European nations on Sunday for their continued support amid US President Donald Trump’s threat of punitive tariffs over the Arctic island.
The tariffs were announced after France, Germany, Britain, and other European countries sent small military contingents to Greenland at Denmark’s request, prompting Trump to demand that the US be allowed to purchase the Danish-ruled territory.
European leaders warned of a “dangerous downward spiral” in response to the US tariff threat, reaffirming their backing for Greenland and Denmark’s sovereignty. Ambassadors from the EU’s 27 member states convened to coordinate their approach to the escalating situation.
Greenland cabinet minister Naaja Nathanielsen highlighted the extraordinary circumstances, emphasizing the need for courage and decency in defending the island’s interests.
Trump has cited Greenland’s strategic location and mineral wealth as reasons for US interest, even suggesting that force could be used to acquire it, which alarmed European leaders over potential conflict among NATO allies.
Despite the rhetoric, Greenland’s local businesses are unlikely to be significantly affected by the proposed tariffs, according to Christian Keldsen, head of the Greenland Business Association, who noted that the tariffs appear aimed more at pressuring European NATO allies than Greenland itself.
Public opposition to Trump’s actions was evident as thousands of protesters in Denmark and Greenland rallied over the weekend, calling for the Arctic island to determine its own future. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen announced plans to visit Oslo, London, and Stockholm to strengthen NATO coordination and Arctic security.
Other European leaders echoed the need for a united response. Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson emphasized that allies would not succumb to blackmail, while Finland’s President Alexander Stubb highlighted the importance of dialogue and the risks tariffs posed to transatlantic relations.
Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere reaffirmed that Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark and stressed NATO’s role in Arctic security.
The coordinated European response underscores support for Greenland’s sovereignty and the importance of maintaining stability in the Arctic amid external pressure.
