People holding Greenlandic flags gather in front of the U.S. Consulate General in Nuuk, Greenland, on January 17, 2026, to protest U.S. President Donald Trump and his announced intentions to acquire Greenland.
Sean Gallup Getty Images News | Getty Images
European leaders have hit back at US President Donald Trump’s threat to impose new tariffs if they oppose his attempt to buy Greenland, calling the ultimatum “completely wrong” and “unacceptable.”
President Trump announced Saturday that eight European allies could raise tariffs starting at 10% on February 1 and rising to 25% on June 1 if Washington fails to reach a deal to “purchase” the Arctic territory, which is part of the semi-autonomous country and the Kingdom of Denmark.
President Trump said on his social media platform Truth Social on Saturday that products from eight NATO countries going to the United States will face increased tariffs “until we reach an agreement on the full and comprehensive purchase of Greenland.”
President Trump said the proposed tariffs would target Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland.
European leaders reacted swiftly to the threat, with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer commenting on Saturday that “imposing tariffs on our allies in the pursuit of collective security for NATO members is completely wrong,” while French President Emmanuel Macron also said it was “unacceptable.”
“If confirmed, European countries will respond in a united and coordinated manner. We will guarantee that Europe’s sovereignty will be maintained,” President Macron said on social media X on Saturday.
Reuters quoted people close to Macron as saying he was pushing for anti-coercion legislation that could restrict access to public tenders within the EU and restrict trade in services, where the United States has a surplus in the region.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa issued a statement on Saturday saying the EU stands “in full solidarity with the peoples of Denmark and Greenland.”
He also vowed to engage in further dialogue following last week’s meeting between senior officials from Denmark, Greenland and the United States, which failed to yield a diplomatic breakthrough.
Nevertheless, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said President Trump’s tariff threat was “a surprise” following “constructive talks” with U.S. Vice President Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
According to Reuters, the European Union has convened an emergency meeting at 16:00 London time on Sunday.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb, who, like British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, is known for his good relationship with Donald Trump, called for calm judgment and further consultations.
But he warned that the additional tariffs, on top of the 15% tariff imposed on EU exports to the US and the 10% imposed on UK exports, would be damaging.
“Among allies, it is best to resolve issues through discussion rather than pressure,” he told X.
“European countries are united. We emphasize the principles of territorial integrity and sovereignty. We stand with Denmark and Greenland. Dialogue with the United States continues. Tariffs risk damaging transatlantic relations and sending them into a dangerous downward spiral.”
“Moderately serious economic problems”
President Trump’s demands now threaten the EU-US trade deal signed in August.
Manfred Weber, a senior member of the European Parliament (MEP), said a trade deal between the EU and the US was “not possible at this stage”.
“President Trump wants to force Denmark and its supporters to sell Greenland to the United States by imposing tariffs. For Europe, this is a terrible geopolitical headache and a moderately serious economic problem,” said Holger Schmieding, chief economist at Berenberg Bank.
He estimated that an additional 10% tax on goods from affected countries could increase U.S. consumer prices by up to 0.15%. But Schmieding told CNBC in a memo that in the “unlikely case” that the EU-US trade deal is not implemented, “the ultimate harm to U.S. consumers could be nearly tripled.”
Denmark and its European neighbors have repeatedly tried to dissuade President Trump from acquiring Greenland, especially after he said earlier this month that he would consider all options to acquire the mineral-rich island, including the use of military force.
President Trump has said acquiring Greenland is critical to U.S. national security. He also said that U.S. ownership would prevent Russia and China from gaining a foothold in the territory. The Chinese and Russian governments have denounced President Trump’s claims and his desire for Greenland as an “excuse for personal gain” and an “abnormality.”
Young people holding placards that read “Greenland is not for sale!” On January 17, 2026, nearly one-third of the city’s population took part in a demonstration in Nuuk, Greenland, near the U.S. Consulate General in Greenland, to protest the U.S. President’s plans to occupy Greenland.
Alessandro Rampazzo AFP | Getty Images
Greenland itself has repeatedly rejected President Trump’s advances, and while polls show a majority of the population wants independence from Denmark, most Greenlanders also do not want to become part of the United States.
Demonstrators in Greenland’s capital Nuuk held a protest on Saturday, reiterating the position of the island’s and Denmark’s leaders that “Greenland is not for sale.”
—Spriha Srivastava contributed to this report.
