Former US President Donald Trump has reignited geopolitical tensions by insisting that Greenland is vital to US national security and refusing to rule out the use of force to secure control of the Arctic territory — a stance that has triggered sharp criticism from European allies and Nato partners.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump claimed that “Nato has been telling Denmark for 20 years” about what he described as a growing Russian threat in the Arctic. Accusing Copenhagen of inaction, he wrote: “Unfortunately, Denmark has been unable to do anything about it. Now it is time, and it will be done!!!”
Trump has threatened to impose new tariffs on eight European countries — Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom — arguing that stronger measures are needed to protect US and Nato security interests linked to Greenland.
In a rare joint statement, the eight nations warned that “tariff threats undermine transatlantic relations” and reaffirmed that they “stand in full solidarity with the Kingdom of Denmark and the people of Greenland.” The countries stressed their shared commitment to Arctic security as Nato allies, calling it a collective transatlantic responsibility.
“We stand ready to engage in dialogue based on the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity, which we firmly uphold,” the statement said, pushing back against any suggestion of coercion or unilateral action.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen echoed those sentiments in a Facebook post, saying Denmark sought cooperation, not confrontation. “We want to cooperate and we are not the ones seeking conflict. Europe will not be blackmailed,” she wrote, adding that it was essential to defend the core values on which the European community was founded.
Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer held a series of high-level calls with Frederiksen, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Nato Secretary-General Mark Rutte before speaking directly with Trump. According to a spokesperson, Starmer reiterated that Greenland’s security is a priority for all Nato members and warned that imposing tariffs on allies in the name of collective defence was “wrong”.
The escalating dispute highlights growing strains in transatlantic relations as Arctic security, Russia’s influence and economic pressure through tariffs increasingly intersect on the global stage.
