[비즈한국] U.S. President Donald Trump has triggered a backlash by announcing a 10% to 25% tariff on eight European countries that have deployed troops to Greenland. The U.S. has been justifying its push to purchase Greenland by citing global security and peace maintenance. Greenland, Denmark, and NATO allies are strongly opposing the U.S. move and have vowed to respond.
Europe is in turmoil as the U.S. resorts to tariff pressure to secure Greenland. On January 17 (local time), President Trump announced via the social media platform Truth Social that he would impose import tariffs on eight countries—Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, and Finland—starting at 10% from February 1 and increasing to 25% from June 1. President Trump emphasized that these tariffs would remain in effect until an agreement is reached for the U.S. to fully purchase Greenland.
President Trump's stated justification is the maintenance of global peace and security. He stated, "China and Russia want Greenland, but there is nothing Denmark can do. Denmark's only means of protection is two dog sleds," adding, "Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, and Finland are entering Greenland with hidden agendas. This is a very dangerous situation involving the security, safety, and survival of our planet. Strong measures are needed to quickly end this precarious situation for the sake of world peace and security."
The eight countries targeted by the U.S. tariffs are those that deployed troops in response to U.S. demands regarding the purchase of Greenland. The U.S., Denmark, and Greenland held a trilateral meeting at the White House on the 14th to discuss the Greenland issue, but it ended after two hours with only confirmation of their conflicting positions. As the U.S. refused to back down from its claims to secure Greenland, the Danish Ministry of Defense, along with NATO allies, reinforced their military presence in Greenland. Allies including France, Germany, and Sweden dispatched small groups of around 10 troops each to Greenland following the meeting. Ostensibly, they framed this not as a confrontation with the U.S., but as training for strengthening security in the Arctic region. On the 15th, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated regarding the deployments that, "It does not affect the President’s decision-making or the goal of securing Greenland," but it has effectively turned into pressure via tariffs.
President Trump stated, "The U.S. has been trying to purchase Greenland for over 150 years. Many past presidents have attempted this, but Denmark has refused every time. Now, due to the 'Golden Dome' and modern weapons systems, the need to acquire Greenland has become more important than ever," adding, "We are currently investing hundreds of billions of dollars in security programs related to the 'Dome.' However, for this sophisticated and complex system to reach its full potential and efficiency, Greenland is absolutely essential in terms of angle, geography, and boundaries."
While the U.S. cites national security as the reason for needing Greenland, the prevailing interpretation is that it is actually eyeing Greenland's mineral resources. This is because the U.S. has already been capable of conducting military activities, such as operating military bases and stationing troops, since signing a defense agreement with Denmark in 1951. Greenland is an island in the Arctic and a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark. While it handles its own internal affairs, Denmark is responsible for diplomacy and defense. Greenland contains deposits of rare earth elements, titanium, oil, and natural gas. Development had been limited due to glaciers and the cold climate, but as glaciers melt rapidly due to global warming, it has drawn attention as a resource development site. The U.S. is eager to secure these resources, as rare earth elements are a key card in the hegemony war with China.
Greenland is also considered a strategic military hub, situated between North America and the Eurasian continent. It is located on the shortest path for intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) fired from Russia toward the U.S. This is the reason the U.S. claims Greenland is essential for building the 'Golden Dome,' its next-generation missile defense system.
Following President Trump's remarks, movements opposing the U.S. attempt to secure Greenland are emerging across Europe. On the same day the news of the U.S. tariffs broke, protests condemning President Trump with slogans such as "Keep your hands off Greenland" were held simultaneously in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, and Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark.
French President Emmanuel Macron warned on X on the 17th, "Tariff threats are unacceptable and are not at all the right way to approach this matter," adding, "If the tariff measures are confirmed, Europe will take a systematic response with a unified stance." The German government released a statement saying, "We are aware of the U.S. President's remarks," and added, "We will work closely with our European partners to decide on an appropriate response at the right time."
According to foreign media including Reuters, major leaders of the European Union (EU) are convening an emergency meeting at 5 PM local time on the 18th in Brussels, Belgium, where the headquarters of the EU and NATO are located, to prepare countermeasures. The meeting is expected to be attended by the ambassadors of the 27 EU member states.