U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday he could impose tariffs on countries that refuse to support his ambition to bring Greenland under U.S. control, raising fresh tensions with allies including Denmark.
Speaking at the White House, Trump said he “may put a tariff on countries if they don’t go along with Greenland,” but did not name specific countries or explain what legal authority he would use to impose such measures.
Greenland is a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. Both Denmark and Greenland have rejected any proposal to transfer sovereignty to the United States, and several other countries have also expressed opposition.
Trump said U.S. control of Greenland was necessary for national security, citing concerns about Russia and China. “We need Greenland for national security,” he said. “I may put a tariff on countries if they don’t go along with Greenland.”
Greenland is sparsely populated but rich in natural resources and strategically located between North America and the Arctic. Its position makes it important for early warning systems against missile attacks and for monitoring shipping in the region.
The United States already has more than 100 personnel stationed at its Pituffik Space Base in northwest Greenland, a missile-monitoring site operated by Washington since World War Two. Under existing agreements with Denmark, the U.S. can deploy additional forces to the territory if needed.
After meeting U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio earlier this week, Denmark’s Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said there was a “fundamental disagreement” between Washington and Copenhagen over Greenland.
He said Trump was insisting on “conquering” Greenland, which he called “absolutely unacceptable,” adding: “We have made it completely clear that this is not in Denmark’s interest.”
Many in the United States have also questioned whether Trump has the legal or political power to carry out such a move.