Countries targeted by Trump warn of ‘downward spiral’ from Greenland tariff ‘threats’
The UK has joined seven other countries targeted by Donald Trump’s tariffs over Greenland to describe them as ‘threats’ that ‘risk a dangerous downward spiral’.
The US President said yesterday he would place 10% tariffs on several European countries, including the UK, until he was able to buy the Danish territory.
He wrote on his Truth Social site: ‘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!’
Starmer, who has said the future of the island should only be decided by Denmark and Greenland, blasted the decision as ‘completely wrong’.
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He has now joined Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden in a joint statement warning about the potential impact.
It says: ‘We stand in full solidarity with the Kingdom of Denmark and the people of Greenland.
‘Building on the process begun last week, we stand ready to engage in a dialogue based on the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity that we stand firmly behind.
‘Tariff threats undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral.’
The statement also pushes back against Trump’s claim that a small, newly announced joint exercise in Greenland means the Nato allies are ‘playing a very dangerous game’.
It says: ‘As members of NATO, we are committed to strengthening Arctic security as a shared transatlantic interest.
‘The pre-coordinated Danish exercise “Arctic Endurance“ conducted with Allies, responds to this necessity. It poses no threat to anyone.’
In a statement, the Prime Minister said on Saturday evening: ‘We have […] made clear that Arctic Security matters for the whole of Nato and allies should all do more together to address the threat from Russia across different parts of the Arctic.
‘Applying tariffs on allies for pursuing the collective security of Nato allies is completely wrong. We will of course be pursuing this directly with the US administration.’
Starmer is also facing calls to scrap the King’s upcoming state visit to the US over Trump’s threat to impose tariffs on the UK over its Greenland stance.
Conservative MP Simon Hoare called for a state visit from King Charles, due to take place later this year to mark the 250th anniversary of US independence, to be cancelled.
Writing on X, he said: ‘The civilised world can deal with Trump no longer. He is a gangster pirate.’
Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey also called for Starmer to use the state visit as leverage and tell Trump it will not happen ‘if he goes ahead with these outrageous tariffs and keeps bullying Greenland’.
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Trump claimed in his post that ‘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.’
He added: ‘Only the United States of America, under PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP, can play in this game, and very successfully, at that!
‘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.’
Donald Trump tariff announcement in full
In a post on the US President’s social media platform, Truth Social, 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. 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. The United States has been trying to do this transaction for over 150 years. Many Presidents have tried, and for good reason, but Denmark has always refused.
‘Now, because of The Golden Dome, and Modern Day Weapons Systems, both Offensive and Defensive, the need to ACQUIRE is especially important.
‘Hundreds of Billions of Dollars are currently being spent on Security Programs having to do with “The Dome,” including for the possible protection of Canada, and this very brilliant, but highly complex system can only work at its maximum potential and efficiency, because of angles, metes, and bounds, if this Land is included in it.
‘The United States of America is immediately open to negotiation with Denmark and/or any of these Countries that have put so much at risk, despite all that we have done for them, including maximum protection, over so many decades. Thank you for your attention to this matter!’
DONALD J. TRUMP
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
The announcement has caused uproar in Greenland and Denmark as thousands protest against Trump’s plans to take over the autonomous Danish territory.
Protests have taken place across Denmark, including the capital, Copenhagen, and Greenland’s capital, Nuuk.
Earlier this week, the president suggested that anything less than US ownership of the semi-autonomous island was ‘unacceptable’.
Trump claimed previously that if his administration doesn’t take action on Greenland, ‘Russia or China will.’
The Nato statement echoed an earlier on from the leaders of the European Commission and European Council.
In it, Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa said the tariffs would ‘undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral’.
Political leaders in the UK have expressed their concerns over Trump’s announcement, with Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch describing the tariffs as ‘a terrible idea’.
She added in a post on X: ‘President Trump is completely wrong to announce tariffs on the UK over Greenland.
‘People in both UK and US will face higher costs. These tariffs will be yet another burden for businesses across our country.
‘The sovereignty of Greenland should only be decided by the people of Greenland. On this, I agree with Keir Starmer.’
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said the tariffs will ‘hurt’ the UK.
He said: ‘We don’t always agree with the US government and in this case we certainly don’t.’
European leaders have stood united in insisting that the future of Greenland is a matter for its inhabitants and Denmark alone.
Meanwhile Denmark itself has bolstered its defence in the territory and increased its military footprint on the island with the help of allies.
It insists that any US attempt to grab the land would spell danger for the Nato alliance.
Its prime minister Mette Frederiksen met on Friday in Copenhagen with a cross-party group of US congressmen and Greenlandic representatives.
Lisa Murkowski, a Republican senator representing Alaska, said Greenland should be viewed as America’s ally rather than an ‘asset’.
She added that all parties needed to ‘nurture’ the relationship that has spanned decades.
It was a markedly differently tone to that struck by Trump earlier in the week, who has repeatedly declined to rule out taking the island by force.
Aside from being rich in natural resources, Greenland boasts an ideal location for keeping track of Russia’s movements.
US control would also bring opportunities to exploit for melting ice caps to create new trans-Arctic trade routes.
The dispute has become a major issue for Greenlandic citizens, who have also edged closer to favouring full sovereign independence according to polling.
However, the territory’s prime minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen made clear this week that the community would elect to stick with Europe amid ominous threats from the Trump administration.
He said earlier this week: ‘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.’
Trump’s unusual and ‘erratic’ behaviour even towards US allies has raised the question what the POTUS could do next – and whether the UK has anything to worry about.
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