Trump Threatens Rising Tariffs on Europe to Push US Bid for Greenland Purchase
Donald Trump announces escalating tariffs on European countries from February 2026, saying the measures will continue until the US is allowed to purchase Greenland.
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US President Donald Trump has announced plans to impose escalating trade tariffs on several European allies, saying the measures will remain in force until the United States is allowed to purchase Greenland, according to a report by Reuters.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said a 10% tariff would take effect from February 1, 2026, on goods imported into the US from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands. Denmark governs Greenland, which Trump has repeatedly said he wants the US to acquire.
Trump added that the tariff rate would rise to 25% from June 1, 2026, and would continue indefinitely until a deal is reached for the “complete and total” purchase of Greenland.
Claiming that the US has long subsidised Europe by not imposing tariffs, Trump wrote that it was now “time for Denmark to give back,” arguing that “world peace is at stake.” He repeated assertions that China and Russia have strategic interests in Greenland, and suggested Denmark lacks the capacity to defend the territory.
Referring to recent European military activity in Greenland, Trump warned that the situation amounted to a “very dangerous game.” His remarks appeared to reference a NATO exercise known as Arctic Endurance, amid growing geopolitical interest in the Arctic region and Greenland’s mineral wealth.
Trump said only the United States could guarantee Greenland’s security, claiming American involvement would protect not just the territory but also global stability. He reiterated that previous US presidents had sought to acquire Greenland over the past 150 years but were rebuffed by Denmark.
The former president also said Washington was “immediately open to negotiations” with Denmark and other affected countries, while stressing that tariffs would remain in place until an agreement is reached.
Trump has increasingly used trade tariffs as leverage in foreign policy, including recent threats of steep duties on other countries to push strategic and geopolitical demands.
