US President Donald Trump today vowed to implement increasing tariffs on the UK and other European allies until the United States is allowed to purchase Greenland.
The tariff will start at ten per cent and come into effect on February 1, rising to 25 per cent on June 1.
The rates will apply to the UK, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Finland, Trump announced in a post on Truth Social.
The UK already pays a ten per cent tariff on some goods imported by the US, after the President introduced a wave of taxes on countries around the world on his so-called Liberation Day, April 2.
In a lengthy post to Truth Social today, President Trump said: ‘We have subsidized Denmark, and all of the Countries of the European Union, and others, for many years by not charging them Tariffs, or any other forms of remuneration. Now, after Centuries, it is time for Denmark to give back — World Peace is at stake!
‘China and Russia want Greenland, and there is not a thing that Denmark can do about it. They currently have two dogsleds as protection, one added recently.
‘Only the United States of America, under PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP, can play in this game, and very successfully, at that!
‘Nobody will touch this sacred piece of Land, especially since the National Security of the United States, and the World at large, is at stake.
US President Donald Trump today vowed to implement increasing tariffs on the UK and other European allies until the United States is allowed to purchase Greenland
‘On top of everything else, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, The United Kingdom, The Netherlands, and Finland have journeyed to Greenland, for purposes unknown.
‘This is a very dangerous situation for the Safety, Security, and Survival of our Planet. These Countries, who are playing this very dangerous game, have put a level of risk in play that is not tenable or sustainable.
‘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.
‘Starting on February 1st, 2026, all of the above mentioned Countries (Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, The United Kingdom, The Netherlands, and Finland), will be charged a 10% Tariff on any and all goods sent to the United States of America. On June 1st, 2026, the Tariff will be increased to 25%.
‘This Tariff will be due and payable until such time as a Deal is reached for the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland.’
Most UK goods are already subject to a ten per cent baseline tariff, while some goods have a higher rate – British steel, aluminium and passenger vehicles are currently subject to a 25 per cent tariff.
The announcement marks a new blow for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer who, along with European allies, has this week sought to reassure Greenlanders amid Trump’s comments.
The UK and several other European allies this week announced the deployment of small numbers of troops to Greenland in response to Trump’s recent comments on the island.
Trump claims the United States needs mineral-rich Greenland and has criticized Denmark for, he says, not doing enough to ensure its security.
The announcement marks a new blow for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer who, along with European allies, has this week sought to reassure Greenlanders amid Trump’s comments
He has insisted for months that the US should control the semiautonomous territory of Denmark, and said earlier this week that anything less than the Arctic island being in US hands would be ‘unacceptable’.
A bipartisan congressional delegation arrived for talks in Copenhagen on Friday, aimed at shoring up support for America’s NATO ally.
The 11 congressmen and women were to hold talks with Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen and her Greenlandic counterpart Jens-Frederik Nielsen.
‘We are showing bipartisan solidarity with the people of this country and with Greenland. They’ve been our friends and allies for decades,’ Democratic Senator Dick Durbin told reporters.
‘We want them to know we appreciate that very much. And the statements being made by the president do not reflect what the American people feel.’
The delegation’s visit follows a meeting in Washington on Wednesday at which Danish representatives said they are in ‘fundamental disagreement’ with Trump over Greenland.
Today hundreds of people in Greenland’s capital braved near-freezing temperatures to march in a rally in support of their own self-governance in the face of threats of a US takeover.
The Greenlanders waved their red-and-white national flags and listened to traditional songs as they walked through Nuuk’s small city centre on Saturday.
Some carried signs with messages like ‘We shape our future’, ‘Greenland is not for sale’ and ‘Greenland is already GREAT’.
They were joined by thousands of others in rallies across the Danish kingdom.
