Trump says he will increase tariffs on countries that oppose his acquisition of Greenland

US President Donald Trump warned last Friday that tariffs might be imposed against countries that do not support his program to bring Greenland under US control. It is noteworthy that the President made this statement at a time when a bipartisan delegation from the US Congress, visiting Copenhagen, Denmark, was attempting to demonstrate unity between the two countries and de-escalate the existing diplomatic tensions.

Trump has emphasized for months that Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory belonging to NATO ally Denmark, should be under Washington's control for national security reasons, and he stated earlier this week that it is an "unacceptable" fact that the Arctic island is not owned by America.

Speaking during an event on rural healthcare services at the White House, Trump stated that the same tactic might be used again to achieve the goal of acquiring Greenland, just as he previously threatened to impose tariffs on European allies regarding pharmaceuticals. The President further emphasized, "I might impose tariffs on countries that do not agree with our idea regarding Greenland, because Greenland is essential for our national security."

The President's statement was issued after discussions in Washington between Danish, Greenlandic, and American officials failed to find ways to fulfill American interests without threats or forced acquisitions. Although this meeting, held by the Danish and Greenlandic foreign ministers with US Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, could not resolve the strong disagreements between the two sides, an agreement was reached to establish a task force. However, Denmark and the White House later expressed conflicting views on the purpose of this task force.

Meanwhile, European leaders continue to assert that only Denmark and Greenland have the right to make decisions regarding Greenland. Denmark is currently increasing its military presence in Greenland with the support of allied nations. Against this backdrop, the American delegation that visited Denmark met with leaders, including Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, where Senator Chris Coons praised the 225-year friendship between the two countries. Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska also emphasized that Greenland should be viewed as a "friend" and not an "asset".

However, the tone from the White House is entirely different. Trump attempts to justify his actions by claiming that China and Russia are trying to acquire Greenland, which is rich in rare mineral resources. The White House has stated that all options are being considered, including acquiring the island by military force, and Trump has said that it will be obtained one way or another, whether European lawmakers like it or not. However, Greenlanders, who reject Trump's view of a Chinese or Russian threat, say that the biggest threat to their country is Washington. Commenting on this, Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen stated that if forced to choose between America and Denmark, he would choose NATO, the European Union, and the Kingdom of Denmark.