The U.S. President, Donald Trump, has continued his program of acquiring Greenland, and he intends to impose tariffs on trading partners that oppose this action. In recent weeks, Trump has stated that he would impose tariffs on countries if they do not back his intention to acquire Greenland. The U.S. president has stressed that the United States requires Greenland for national security reasons, stating that the island is needed to better position the U.S. against Russia and China.
European leaders have stated their opposition through public statements, especially against Trump’s assertion that the U.S. could take Greenland using military action. He further stated that if the U.S. does not take over Greenland, the island would surely fall into the hands of either China or Russia. In response, European leaders associated with NATO have agreed to send military assets and troops to reinforce Greenland’s security and have called for a more permanent presence on the island.
Furthermore, the Trump administration has stated that it will implement a tariff programme of 10 percent on European countries that oppose plans to take Greenland. The countries that would be hit by tariffs if they do not change their stance on the matter include France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Finland. The U.S. president further stated that if these countries did not change their position even after the 10 percent tariffs, the rate would be raised further to 25 percent.
This ongoing feud with key European allies over Greenland is further driving a wedge between Europe and the United States. The proposed tariffs risk derailing already agreed trade deals between the U.S. and Europe, thereby increasing the risk of further global trade tensions. With global trade already experiencing disruption due to geopolitical instability, these actions could further politicise trade, causing additional supply chain and trade flow disruptions.
Some analysts have also noted the potential weakening of the NATO alliance, particularly due to the Trump administration’s insinuation of taking Greenland through military action. This has further alarmed NATO allies, especially as many are highly reliant on the U.S. in terms of military industry. Donald Trump also suggested that the U.S. could leave NATO if other members did not shift their positions on the issue.
BakuTiflis 