What's happened
On January 17, 2026, US President Donald Trump announced escalating tariffs on the UK, Denmark, and six other European countries, starting at 10% from February 1 and rising to 25% from June 1, until a deal is reached for the US to purchase Greenland. The move has sparked widespread condemnation from European leaders and NATO allies, who emphasize Greenland's sovereignty lies with Denmark and its people. The tariffs target countries that have deployed troops to Greenland amid rising Arctic security concerns.
What's behind the headline?
Strategic Leverage Through Tariffs
President Trump's tariff threats represent an aggressive use of economic pressure to achieve geopolitical aims, specifically the acquisition of Greenland. This tactic risks fracturing NATO cohesion by targeting key allies with punitive trade measures, undermining collective security cooperation in the Arctic.
Sovereignty and International Law
The unequivocal stance of Denmark, Greenland, and European allies underscores the primacy of sovereignty and self-determination. Trump's approach disregards these principles, raising concerns about unilateralism and the potential erosion of international norms.
Arctic Geopolitics and Resource Competition
Greenland's vast rare earth mineral deposits and strategic location make it a focal point in the emerging Arctic power contest involving the US, China, Russia, and European states. The US aims to reduce reliance on China for critical minerals, but the coercive approach may alienate partners essential for Arctic security.
Economic Impact and Trade Relations
The tariffs threaten to disrupt transatlantic trade, with the UK and EU countries facing higher costs on exports to the US. British trade experts warn this could exacerbate economic challenges and risk tipping the UK into recession, highlighting the broader economic fallout beyond geopolitics.
Political Fallout and Alliance Strain
European leaders, including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, have condemned the tariffs as "completely wrong" and "unacceptable," emphasizing the need for dialogue over coercion. The US risks diplomatic isolation and weakening of NATO unity if it persists.
Forecast
The standoff will likely continue with diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions. However, unless the US shifts from coercion to cooperation, the tariffs will deepen divisions, complicate Arctic security collaboration, and potentially harm economic ties. Greenland's future remains firmly in the hands of its people and Denmark, resisting external acquisition attempts.
What the papers say
Maryam Zakir-Hussain of The Independent reports that President Trump threatened to raise tariffs from 10% to 25% on imports from the UK, Denmark, and other European countries until Greenland is sold to the US, a move condemned by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer as "completely wrong" and a threat to NATO solidarity. The Independent also highlights the economic risks, with trade experts warning the tariffs could tip the UK into recession.
Sky News quotes UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy emphasizing the UK's "non-negotiable" position that Greenland's future is for its people and Denmark to decide, rejecting Trump's demands and stressing the importance of maintaining good US relations.
The Guardian's Peter Walker details the political backlash, with Starmer and other UK politicians condemning the tariffs and French President Emmanuel Macron calling the threats "unacceptable," underscoring European unity against coercion.
SBS provides broader context on Greenland's strategic importance, noting the US military presence and the island's rare earth minerals, while highlighting that Denmark and Greenland oppose US acquisition and that the US Supreme Court is reviewing the legality of such tariffs.
The New Arab and The Mirror report on widespread protests in Greenland and Denmark against Trump's plans, with demonstrators demanding respect for Greenland's self-determination and criticizing the US president's aggressive stance.
Reuters and Al Jazeera emphasize the diplomatic tensions, noting that European nations have sent troops to Greenland at Denmark's request to bolster security amid Arctic competition, which Trump cites as justification for tariffs.
Together, these sources illustrate a multifaceted crisis involving trade, sovereignty, security, and alliance politics, with strong European resistance to US pressure and significant economic and geopolitical stakes.
How we got here
Greenland, a mineral-rich, semi-autonomous Danish territory, has strategic importance due to its Arctic location and resources. The US has maintained a military presence there since World War II. President Trump has pursued US control over Greenland since 2019, citing security concerns and competition from China and Russia. European nations have increased military cooperation with Denmark in the Arctic, prompting Trump's tariff threats to pressure a Greenland sale.
Go deeper
- Why is the US interested in buying Greenland?
- How are European countries responding to the US tariffs?
- What impact will these tariffs have on UK and European trade?
Common question
-
Why Is the US Threatening Tariffs on European Countries Over Greenland?
The US is considering imposing tariffs on several European nations to pressure them into selling Greenland. This move has sparked international debate about sovereignty, strategic interests, and diplomacy. Curious about what’s behind this aggressive stance and what it means for global relations? Keep reading to find out more about the US's plans, Greenland's importance, and the potential consequences for international trade and diplomacy.
-
Why Is the US Imposing Tariffs on Allies Over Greenland?
Recent US moves to impose tariffs on European NATO allies over Greenland have raised many questions. Why is the US targeting these countries? What does it mean for Greenland's future? And could this lead to bigger conflicts? Below, we explore the key issues behind this controversial situation and what it could mean for international relations.
More on these topics
-
Donald John Trump is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021.
-
Greenland is the world's largest island, located between the Arctic and Atlantic oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. It is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark.
-
Denmark, officially the Kingdom of Denmark, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. Denmark proper, which is the southernmost of the Scandinavian countries, consists of a peninsula, Jutland, and an archipelago of 443 named islands, with the largest being
-
Sir Keir Rodney Starmer KCB QC MP is a British politician and former lawyer who has served as Leader of the Labour Party and Leader of the Opposition since 2020. He has been Member of Parliament for Holborn and St Pancras since 2015.
-
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom or Britain, is a sovereign country located off the northwestern coast of the European mainland.
-
Emmanuel Jean-Michel Frédéric Macron is a French politician who has been President of France and ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra since 14 May 2017.
-
The European Union is a political and economic union of 27 member states that are located primarily in Europe. Its members have a combined area of 4,233,255.3 km² and an estimated total population of about 447 million.
-
France, officially the French Republic, is a country consisting of metropolitan France in Western Europe and several overseas regions and territories.
-
Sweden, officially the Kingdom of Sweden, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It borders Norway to the west and north, Finland to the east, and is connected to Denmark in the southwest by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund Strait.
-
Lars Løkke Rasmussen RSKmd is a Danish politician who served as the 25th and 27th Prime Minister of Denmark from 2009 to 2011 and again from 2015 to 2019. He was the leader of the liberal Venstre party from 2009 to 2019.
Rasmussen has been a member of th
-
Olukemi Olufunto Adegoke Badenoch (née Adegoke; born 2 January 1980) is a British politician who has served as Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Conservative Party since November 2024. Badenoch previously worked in the Cabinet for prime minister
-
Nigel Paul Farage is a British politician. He has been leader of the Brexit Party since 2019, and served as Member of the European Parliament for South East England from 1999 until the United Kingdom's exit from the EU in 2020.
-
Ulf Hjalmar Kristersson is a Swedish politician who has been serving as the 35th prime minister of Sweden since 2022. He has been the leader of the Moderate Party since October 2017 and a member of parliament for Södermanland County since 2014 and for St
-
Copenhagen is the capital and most populous city of Denmark. As of 1 January 2020, the city had a population of 794,128 with 632,340 in Copenhagen Municipality, 104,305 in Frederiksberg Municipality, 42,989 in Tårnby Municipality, and 14,494 in Dragør M
-
Sir Edward Jonathan Davey FRSA MP is a British politician serving as Acting Co-Leader of the Liberal Democrats since 13 December 2019. He has been the Member of Parliament for Kingston and Surbiton since 2017, and previously from 1997 until 2015. Davey is
-
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental military alliance between 30 North American and European countries.
-
Lisa Eva Nandy is a British Labour politician who has served as Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs since 2020. She has been Member of Parliament for Wigan since 2010.
-
Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe whose mainland territory comprises the western and northernmost portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula; Mainland Norway and the remote island of Jan Mayen as well as the archi
-
Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central and Western Europe. Covering an area of 357,022 square kilometres, it lies between the Baltic and North seas to the north, and the Alps to the south.