European leaders responded forcefully on Saturday evening to US President Donald Trump after he threatened to "punish" European countries standing in the way of America's annexation of Greenland, including by imposing new tariffs. British and French officials condemned what they called a "completely wrong decision," while Greenland leaders welcomed the European support.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Saturday evening that "our position is clear – Greenland is part of Denmark, and its future is a matter for the Greenlandic people and Denmark," adding that Britain has emphasized repeatedly that security matters concerning NATO and allies should receive collective responses, particularly given the threat from Russia. French President Emmanuel Macron echoed the message, calling Trump's threats "unacceptable."
Macron wrote on X that if the tariffs Trump threatened to impose are indeed approved, Europe will coordinate its response. "We will not be deterred by threats or intimidation," Macron said. "Not in Ukraine, not in Greenland, and not anywhere else in the world. Tariff threats are unacceptable and have no place here. Europe will respond."
Additional politicians came out against Trump's statements, according to a report by the British newspaper The Guardian. Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch responded sharply. "The tariffs will constitute an additional burden on businesses in our country," Badenoch said. Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey joined the criticism and also attacked Starmer, saying, "His policy toward the United States is failing. Trump is now punishing Britain and NATO partners for doing the right thing. The time has come for the prime minister to stand up to White House bullies and work with European allies to force him to retreat from this dangerous plan."
In Greenland, the European response was welcomed. Greenland's Minister of Natural Resources Naaja Nathanielsen wrote, "I am stunned by the initial responses from many countries, and grateful and hopeful that diplomacy and alliances will prevail." Trump has continued to apply pressure on Denmark and European countries to allow the United States to annex Greenland. Last Saturday, he announced his decision to impose a new 10% tariff on imports from several European countries, starting February 1, unless they agree to the annexation. According to Trump, the tariffs will remain in effect "until an agreement is reached for the complete and absolute purchase of Greenland" by the United States. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said that countries like Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, Britain, the Netherlands, and Finland will face a 10% tariff on "all products" imported into the United States. On June 1, he said, the tariff will rise to 25%.
Trump frequently uses tariffs as a political pressure tool against both US allies and rival nations. Last year, he surprised the international audience when he imposed comprehensive tariffs on almost all countries in the world, including Israel. "I am the tariff king, and the tariff king has done a great job," he said over the weekend.
Greenland is a large Arctic island with a population of approximately 57,000 residents. It has belonged to Denmark for hundreds of years but enjoys broad autonomy. Denmark's constitution grants it the right to declare independence if it chooses to do so. The idea of purchasing Greenland first emerged during his previous term as US president – Trump views the resource-rich island as a vital security asset in the Arctic, a region where Russia and China seek to expand their presence. Since returning to the White House last January, Trump has raised the annexation issue many times. In recent months, he has taken steps emphasizing the seriousness of his intentions, including appointing a special envoy for Greenland and sending his son, Donald Trump Jr., to visit the island.
