 "Young people with placards reading \"Greenland is not for sale!\"
US President Donald Trump escalated his quest to acquire Greenland, threatening multiple European nations with tariffs of up to 25 percent until his purchase of the Danish territory is achieved.- AFP")
France’s President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday called US President Donald Trump’s potential tariff threats over Greenland “unacceptable,” warning that Europe would respond in a united and coordinated way if the measures were confirmed.
“No intimidation or threat will sway us—whether in Ukraine, Greenland, or elsewhere,” Macron said on X. “Tariff threats have no place here, and Europeans will react together if they are implemented.”
The comments come amid growing tensions over Trump’s pursuit of the Danish territory. Denmark’s foreign minister, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, described the president’s threat as surprising. He emphasised that the enhanced U.S. military presence in Greenland is intended to bolster Arctic security and noted ongoing coordination with the European Commission and other partners.
Trump escalated his push on Saturday, warning several European nations that they could face tariffs of up to 25 percent unless his proposed acquisition of Greenland is realised.
The dispute highlights rising friction between Washington and European allies over strategic and economic interests in the Arctic region, as the U.S. seeks to secure its position while Europe signals a firm stance against coercion.
Trump’s threats came as thousands of people protested in the capital of Greenland against his wish to acquire the mineral-rich island at the gateway to the Arctic.
If realised, Trump’s threats against Washington’s NATO partners would create unprecedented tension within the alliance.
From February 1, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Finland would be subject to a 10-percent tariff on all goods sent to the United States, Trump said in a post on his Truth Social network.
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View All“On June 1st, 2026, the Tariff will be increased to 25%. This Tariff will be due and payable until such time as a Deal is reached for the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland,” he wrote.
“These Countries, who are playing this very dangerous game, have put a level of risk in play that is not tenable or sustainable,” Trump said.
“Therefore, it is imperative that, in order to protect Global Peace and Security, strong measures be taken so that this potentially perilous situation end quickly, and without question.”
Trump added that he was “immediately open to negotiation with Denmark and/or any of these Countries.”
With inputs from agencies