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Trump tariff threats over Greenland spark European backlash

Eight NATO countries warn that planned U.S. trade measures linked to military deployments in Greenland could undermine transatlantic relations and fuel escalation

Trump tariff threats over Greenland are raising tensions between the United States and key European allies, with eight countries issuing a joint warning against what they describe as a destabilizing use of trade measures tied to security issues in the Arctic.

Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom said the announced U.S. tariffs, expected to take effect on February 1, could “undermine transatlantic relations and risk triggering a dangerous spiral.” The measures would target countries that have deployed military personnel to Greenland, the Danish autonomous territory that former U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly said he wants to acquire.

In their joint statement, the eight nations, all NATO members, stressed their commitment to strengthening Arctic security within what they defined as shared transatlantic interests. They pointed to the ongoing Danish-led military exercise in Greenland, Arctic Endurance, as part of that collective effort. According to the statement, Trump tariff threats over Greenland do not contribute to resolving differences and instead risk escalating political and economic tensions.

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The countries reaffirmed unity and coordination in their response, underlining their determination to defend sovereignty and territorial integrity. They also expressed solidarity with Denmark and the people of Greenland, insisting that dialogue, not trade threats, is the appropriate path forward. Referring to last week’s talks in Washington involving the United States, Denmark, and Greenland, the statement said the eight nations remain ready for discussions based on respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen echoed that position, announcing a diplomatic tour to Oslo, London, and Stockholm in the days following the U.S. announcement. Speaking to the press, Rasmussen said Denmark needs close friends and allies in an increasingly unstable international environment and emphasized that the countries he is visiting share the same view on reinforcing NATO’s role in the Arctic.

Rasmussen added that he is eager to discuss coordination within the alliance, particularly as concerns grow over security dynamics in the region. Trump tariff threats over Greenland, he suggested, risk being interpreted as punitive measures against allies acting within a NATO framework.

Meanwhile, a 15-member German military reconnaissance team deployed to Greenland in recent days has completed its mission and is returning to Copenhagen. A German military spokesperson said the deployment, carried out as part of the Danish-led preparations for the upcoming exercise, has concluded and that the findings will be analyzed in the coming days.

The withdrawal of the German team comes one day after the U.S. announcement of additional tariffs on the eight European countries involved in Arctic deployments, reinforcing concerns in Europe that trade policy is being used to pressure allies over Greenland-related security decisions.

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