Greenland PM rebukes Trump’s threats of European tariffs

Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said Monday that the Arctic island would not be pressured over U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff threats.

His comments come shortly after Nielsen joined protesters in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, over the weekend, where people marched to demonstrate against Trump’s push to take control of the self-governing Danish territory.

On Saturday, the U.S. president threatened to impose a rising wave of tariffs against eight European countries for their opposition to his campaign.

European political leaders called the proposed tariffs “unacceptable” and vowed to stand behind Denmark, which is responsible for the island’s foreign, defense, and security policies.

In a social media post, Greenland’s Nielsen said the recent demonstrations in Greenland and in Denmark had shown “a strong and dignified unity.”

He also welcomed support from other European leaders, saying it shows a “clear recognition” that Greenland had the right to make its own decisions.

“The latest statements from the US, including threats of tariffs, do not change that line. We will not be pressured. We stand firm on dialogue, on respect and on international law,” Nielsen said in a Facebook post, according to a Google translation.

Trump, who has long coveted making Greenland a part of the U.S., renewed his interest in the vast and mineral-rich territory following an audacious U.S. military operation in Venezuela on Jan. 3.

The U.S. president has said that the U.S. needs the sparsely populated island for national security reasons, citing concerns about Russia and China’s Arctic influence and recently telling reporters that Washington would acquire the self-governing Danish territory “one way or the other.”

As part of this push, Trump has pledged to impose 10% tariffs on the U.K., Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Finland from Feb. 1 if they oppose his bid to buy Greenland.

The levy on these countries will rise to 25% from June 1, Trump said.

European leaders are expected to meet in the coming days as they consider their response, which reportedly could include retaliatory tariffs and broader punitive economic counter-measures against the U.S.