Donald Trump has declared that if Denmark does not “give back” Greenland, world peace is at stake. So, for the administration to save the “world at large,” Trump has ordered a 10% tariff on Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, and Finland starting Feb. 1.
If a deal isn’t reached by Jun. 1, Trump suggests raising the tariffs on NATO allies to 25%. Trump’s reasoning for why the US needs to annex Greenland is that China and Russia are also targeting the land, which could risk giving those nations a tactical advantage over the US.
He even mocked that all Denmark has for defense are “two dogsleds” and that it wouldn’t stand a chance against the two world powers. But that argument falls apart immediately when you understand that the foundation of NATO is that when one nation is attacked, all NATO nations are attacked.
BREAKING: President Trump announces a 10% tariff on Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, Netherlands, and Finland beginning February 1st.
— The Kobeissi Letter (@KobeissiLetter) January 17, 2026
This tariff will be increased to 25% beginning on June 1st.
Tariffs will remain in effect until the US reaches a deal to buy… pic.twitter.com/978qAHjxao
BBC reports that Trump’s Truth Social post prompted a European Union emergency meeting. The meeting will include all 27 member states later in the evening of Jan. 18. But in Greenland and Denmark, people have already taken to the streets to protest Trump’s proposed annexation, which is understandable — because it’s similar to when Vladimir Putin tried to occupy Ukraine.
European states are in a tough position because when Trump returned to power, they opted for diplomacy instead of hostility. They turned a blind eye when he broke pre-established trade agreements, mocked France’s role in World War II, and even when he embarrassed Ukraine’s leader at the Oval Office while warming up to Vladimir Putin. They were even split in their support for his abduction of the Venezuelan president.
“Completely wrong”
It’s an understatement to call this a mask-off moment for Trump, because it’s hard to argue that the mask was ever on. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said, “Applying tariffs on allies for pursuing the collective security of NATO allies is completely wrong. We will of course be pursuing this directly with the US administration.” Even far-right UK politician Nigel Farage, a close associate of Trump, called the tariffs a “terrible idea.”
The Swedish prime minister is now saying that the EU allowed itself to be blackmailed by not being more stern with Trump when he showed that he is also willing to manufacture geopolitical crises to get his way. Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen, who Trump said he had never heard of, also joined fellow citizens on the streets to protest the Trump threat.
The good side of this is that, at the very least, Trump is not currently considering military intervention. The bad part is that this will likely start a trade war between the EU and the US.
