• Duties start at 10pc on eight nations from Feb 1 and could rise to 25pc in June; penalties to remain until deal is complete
• Denmark, UK, France and Germany among nations targeted; thousands rally in Nuuk as PM joins chants of ‘Make America Go Away’
• US lawmakers call govt push ‘misguided’

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump escalated his bid to acquire Greenland on Saturday, threatening tariffs of up to 25 per cent on eight European nations until his purchase of the Danish territory is achieved.

Trump aimed the threat at Denmark and fellow NATO members who have deployed troops to the mineral-rich territory in recent days. The ultimatum threatens to create unprecedented tension within the alliance.

Writing on his Truth Social platform, Trump announced that starting Feb 1, all goods sent to the United States from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland would be subject to a 10 per cent tariff.

“On June 1st, 2026, the Tariff will be increased to 25pc. This Tariff will be due and payable until such time as a deal is reached for the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland,” Trump wrote.

The US president argued that the European nations are “playing this very dangerous game” and have introduced unsustainable risks.

“Therefore, it is imperative that, in order to protect Global Peace and Security, strong measures be taken so that this potentially perilous situation end quickly, and without question,” he added.

It was not immediately clear what legal authority the president would invoke to impose the levies. Since returning to office, Trump has frequently utilised sweeping tariffs to combat what the administration labels unfair trade practices and to press foreign governments on US interests.

The president has repeatedly claimed the US “needs” Greenland for national security reasons and that Denmark is incapable of ensuring the defence of the island, which is home to 57,000 people and sits at the strategic gateway to the Arctic.

European NATO members recently deployed troops to Greenland for military exercises. France stated the mission was designed to demonstrate a commitment to defending the territory. Denmark confirmed the US had been invited to participate in those exercises.

Trump characterised the resistance from European allies as a threat to global stability, warning that the nations opposing the deal “have put a level of risk in play that is not tenable or sustainable.”

Protests in the Arctic

Trump’s announcement coincided with mass demonstrations on Saturday in Greenland’s capital, Nuuk, and across Denmark. Thousands of protesters joined Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen in Nuuk, waving flags and chanting slogans under light rain.

Many demonstrators wore caps reading “Make America Go Away” — a play on Trump’s “Make America Great Again” campaign slogan.

“We don’t want Trump invading Greenland, that is the message,” said Paarniq Larsen Strum, a 44-year-old nurse at the rally. She described the geopolitical stand-off as “nerve-wracking.”

Opposition to the US annexation plan is widespread among residents. A poll published in January 2025 showed 85pc of Greenlanders oppose joining the United States, with only 6pc in favour.

“We demand respect for our country’s right to self-determination and for us as a people,” said Avijaja Rosing-Olsen, an organiser of the demonstration. “This is not only our struggle, it is a struggle that concerns the entire world.”

The situation spurred groups like Uagut, an association of Greenlanders in Denmark, to mobilise. Organisers said their aim was “to send a clear and unified message of respect for Greenland’s democracy and fundamental human rights”. In a display of cultural unity, demonstrators chanted traditional Inuit songs, rejecting the view of their homeland as merely a strategic asset to be bought or sold.

Allies push back

In Copenhagen, protesters showed solidarity, waving Danish and Greenlandic flags and chanting “Kalaallit Nunaat”, the island’s name in Greenlandic.

“You cannot be bullied by an ally. It’s about international law,” said Kirsten Hjoernholm, a 52-year-old charity worker at the protest.

Some placards read “USA already has too much ICE”, a reference to Trump’s deployment of armed immigration officers in US cities.

The dispute occurred as a delegation of US lawmakers, led by Democratic Sen Chris Coons, visited the region for talks with Greenlandic and Danish politicians. Coons told reporters that Trump’s stance was misguided and not supported by the majority of Americans.

Coons insisted there was no security threat justifying the administration’s aggressive posture.

“There are legitimate reasons for us to explore ways to invest better in Arctic security broadly, both in the American Arctic and in our Nato partners and allies,” Coons said.

Published in Dawn, January 18th, 2026