United States (U.S.) President Donald Trump has escalated his rhetoric on the issue of Greenland, stating that he could punish countries by imposing trade tariffs if they do not support the plans of the U.S. to take control of the island.
Although Trump has been insisting for months that the U.S. should control Greenland, an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, this is the first time that the Republican president has explicitly mentioned the use of tariffs as a means of coercion to achieve that goal.
“I could impose tariffs on countries if they do not agree on the issue of Greenland, because we need Greenland for national security,” Trump said at the White House, without providing specific details about which countries might be affected or the level of potential tariffs.
Trump claims that the U.S. needs Greenland because of its rich mineral resources and criticized Denmark, arguing that it is not doing enough to secure this strategically important area, despite the fact that the island is covered by NATO’s security umbrella.
U.S. congressmen in Denmark: “It’s just one man”
While Trump threatens economic measures, a bipartisan delegation of the U.S. Congress has arrived in Copenhagen to express solidarity with Denmark and the people of Greenland. The delegation, made up of both Democrats and Republicans, seeks to reassure European allies that the president’s views do not reflect the will of U.S. citizens.
“We are showing bipartisan solidarity with the people of this country and with Greenland. They have been our friends and allies for decades,” Democratic Senator Dick Durbin told reporters. “The statements made by the president do not reflect what U.S. citizens feel.”
Senator Jeanne Shaheen warned that such rhetoric undermines NATO and plays into the hands of the main adversaries, Russia and China.
In response to the pressure, European leaders have stood by Denmark. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen reiterated that a U.S. takeover of Greenland “is not an option.”
At the same time, several European countries, including France, the United Kingdom (UK), Germany, and Sweden, have announced the deployment of a small number of military personnel to Greenland for exercises. French Minister of the Armed Forces Alice Rufo said the aim was to send a signal to everyone, including the U.S., that European countries are determined to defend their sovereignty.
Protests and divided opinions in Washington
Despite opposition from Congress and polls showing that only 17 percent of U.S. citizens support taking over Greenland (results Trump called “fake”), the White House is not backing down. Jeff Landry, Trump’s special envoy for Greenland, said that he believes a deal will nevertheless be reached because “the president is serious and has set clear demands for Denmark.”
Large demonstrations have been announced for today across Denmark and Greenland, where citizens will protest against Trump’s territorial ambitions.
