United States President Donald Trump has warned that countries refusing to support his plan to take control of Greenland could face trade tariffs, escalating pressure over the future of the strategically important Arctic territory.
Speaking on Friday at a health policy roundtable at the White House, Trump said economic penalties were an option if allies failed to align with Washington’s position on Greenland, which is an autonomous territory under Denmark, a fellow NATO member.
“I may put a tariff on countries if they don’t go along with Greenland, because we need Greenland for national security,” Trump said, adding that such action remained under consideration.
The threat marked the latest move in Trump’s renewed push to bring mineral-rich Greenland under U.S. control, a goal he has framed as critical to American security interests.
He has repeatedly argued that the island’s location and natural resources make it vital for countering the growing influence of Russia and China in the Arctic region.
Trump likened the possible measures to tariff threats he directed at France and Germany last year over pharmaceutical pricing disputes, reinforcing his willingness to use trade policy as leverage in diplomatic confrontations.
European governments have pushed back strongly against the idea, publicly reaffirming their support for Denmark and Greenland.
In recent days, some European nations have increased their military presence in the Arctic territory as a show of solidarity and deterrence.
In Washington, a bipartisan delegation of U.S. lawmakers also began a visit to Copenhagen on Friday, signalling congressional backing for Denmark and Greenland amid the growing dispute.
Efforts to de-escalate tensions have so far yielded limited results. The foreign ministers of Denmark and Greenland met with U.S. officials at the White House earlier in the week, but later acknowledged that fundamental disagreements with the Trump administration remained unresolved.
Despite the sharp rhetoric, the White House said the United States, Denmark and Greenland have agreed to establish a joint working group to continue discussions, with meetings planned every two to three weeks.
The issue has become a flashpoint in transatlantic relations, raising questions about alliance unity, sovereignty and the use of economic pressure to advance strategic ambitions.
