US President Donald Trump has announced a wave of tariff increases on European allies until the United States is allowed to buy Greenland.
In a post on the Truth Social network, Trump said that 10% tariffs will take effect on February 1 for Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland. These tariffs will increase to 25% on June 1 and will continue to apply until an agreement is reached on the US purchase of Greenland, Trump said, reports Index.hr.
Trump accused several European countries of playing a “very dangerous game” in Greenland, saying that “world peace is at stake”. “Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland went to Greenland for an unknown purpose. (…) These countries, playing this very dangerous game, have taken an unacceptable risk,” the US president wrote in a long post on his social network.
Starmer: Customs completely wrong
After Trump’s announcement, there were sharp reactions from the countries he threatened. “We will not be intimidated,” the leaders of the countries said and announced a joint response.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned Donald Trump’s latest tariffs, calling them “completely wrong”. He emphasized that Greenland is part of Denmark and that “its future is a matter for Greenlanders and Danes”.
In a statement, he clarified the United Kingdom’s position:
“Our position on Greenland is very clear – it is part of the Kingdom of Denmark and its future is a matter for Greenlanders and Danes. We have also made it clear that Arctic security is important for all of NATO and that allies should do more together to face the Russian threat in different parts of the Arctic. Applying tariffs to allies for the sake of the collective security of NATO allies is completely wrong. Of course, we will take up this issue directly with the US administration.”
Republican Senator: Tariffs are good for Xi, Putin and others
Republican Senator Thom Tillis lashed out at Donald Trump for threatening to impose tariffs, expressing his views on the X social network.
In his announcement, Tillis stated that threats of tariffs are harmful to the United States. “It’s bad for America, bad for American business and bad for America’s allies,” he wrote. In the following, he added that such a proposal benefits American rivals. “That’s good for Putin, Xi and other enemies who want to see NATO divided.”
Tillis, who has been in Denmark in recent days, has previously criticized Trump’s proposals, such as the idea of taking over Greenland.
Stupid move
Nobel laureate in economics and New York Times columnist Paul Krugman called Donald Trump’s tariff threats against Denmark and several other European countries his “dumbest move yet.”
According to Krugman, such threats show that Europe has managed to put pressure on the US president. He also warned that imposing punitive tariffs could prove illegal under US law.
Krugman concludes that the US is thus destroying its own credibility on a global scale. The world, he says, is now learning that trade agreements concluded with the United States are only valid until Trump suddenly changes his mind.
European response – united and coordinated
French President Emmanuel Macron reacted to Donald Trump’s tariff threats, saying that they were “unacceptable”. Macron stressed that European leaders would respond to them “united and coordinated” if they were confirmed, he posted on social media.
“France is committed to the sovereignty and independence of nations, in Europe as elsewhere. This guides our elections. This underpins our commitment to the United Nations and our Charter,” Macron said. He added that “on this basis we support and will continue to support Ukraine”.
In the same context, he mentioned participation in the Greenland exercise. “It is also on this basis that we decided to join the exercise that Denmark decided to conduct in Greenland. We stand by that decision. Especially because it concerns security in the Arctic and on the borders of our Europe,” he wrote.
Macron said that European leaders would not be swayed by intimidation or threats. “Customs threats are unacceptable and have no place in this context,” he added. “We will know how to defend European sovereignty. I will speak in that spirit with our European partners.”
Foto: Foto:U.S. President Donald Trump (U.S. Department of Agriculture, https://www.rawpixel.com/image/3307019, CC0 1.0)
