At a Glance
- President Trump said he may impose tariffs on nations that resist U.S. control of Greenland.
- A bipartisan U.S. delegation met Danish and Greenlandic leaders in Copenhagen to ease tensions.
- Greenlandic and Danish officials reaffirm that the territory is not for sale.
- Why it matters: The standoff strains NATO ties and raises questions about U.S. intentions toward allies.
President Donald Trump on Friday raised the stakes in his push for the United States to control Greenland, saying he might impose tariffs on countries that refuse to support the move. The remark came hours after a bipartisan Congressional delegation arrived in Copenhagen aiming to calm allied anger over the administration’s threats.
Trump Floats Tariffs for First Time
Speaking at a White House event on rural health care, Trump recalled threatening European allies with pharmaceutical tariffs and added, “I may do that for Greenland too. I may put a tariff on countries if they don’t go along with Greenland, because we need Greenland for national security. So I may do that.”
This is the first time the president has publicly suggested using trade penalties to pressure Denmark and others over the Arctic island.
Bipartisan Delegation Offers Reassurance
Sen. Chris Coons, a Delaware Democrat leading the delegation, thanked Danish and Greenlandic hosts for “225 years of being a good and trusted ally and partner” and pledged to extend that cooperation. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, an Alaska Republican, emphasized that “Greenland needs to be viewed as our ally, not as an asset.”
Murkowski noted polling shows roughly 75 percent of Americans oppose acquiring Greenland. She and Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, a New Hampshire Democrat, have introduced legislation to bar the Pentagon or State Department from using funds to annex Greenland-or any NATO member’s territory-without the ally’s consent or North Atlantic Council approval.
Greenland and Denmark Reject Takeover
Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen on Tuesday declared, “if we have to choose between the United States and Denmark here and now, we choose Denmark. We choose NATO. We choose the Kingdom of Denmark. We choose the EU.”
Danish officials announced they are increasing military presence on the island in coordination with allies.
Working Group Agreed-But Divisions Remain
Earlier this week, Danish and Greenlandic foreign ministers met Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington. The talks produced an agreement to create a working group, yet Denmark and the White House offered conflicting public descriptions of its purpose.
European leaders maintain that only Denmark and Greenland can decide the territory’s future.
Inuit Leaders Decry ‘Colonization’ Talk
Aaja Chemnitz, a Greenlandic politician in the Danish parliament, said Greenlanders have heard “so many lies … and so much exaggeration on the threats towards Greenland. And mostly, I would say the threats that we’re seeing right now is from the U.S. side.”
Sara Olsvig, chair of the Inuit Circumpolar Council, told Natalie A. Brooks in Nuuk that persistent White House statements show “how the U.S. administration views Indigenous peoples, and peoples that are few in numbers.” Indigenous Inuit “do not want to be colonized again,” she added.
Arctic Strategic Value Underscored
Greenland sits astride the Arctic Circle among the U.S., Russia, and Europe. Its location and untapped critical minerals have drawn American interest for more than 150 years, especially as melting ice opens new shipping routes.
The White House has not ruled out taking the territory by force, though Congress controls funding and the delegation emphasized its role in reflecting constituent views.
Key Takeaways
- Trump’s tariff threat marks an escalation in his months-long campaign to acquire Greenland.
- A bipartisan Congressional group is working to reassure NATO allies and limit executive action.
- Greenlandic and Danish leaders firmly reject any sale or transfer of sovereignty.
- Indigenous representatives warn that U.S. pressure revives colonial-era dynamics.
