President Trump has today vowed to implement a wave of increasing tariffs on European allies until the United States is allowed to buy Greenland.
In a post on his social media network Truth Social, Mr Trump said additional 10% import tariffs would take effect from February 1 on goods from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Finland and Great Britain (all countries who have responded to Denmark’s request this week and sent military personnel to Greenland as the row over ‘the future’ of the vast Arctic island escalates).
“These Countries, who are playing this very dangerous game, have put a level of risk in play that is not tenable or sustainable,” Mr Trump wrote.
The extra 10% tariffs will increase to 25% on June 1, the president adds, until a deal is reached for the United States to purchase Greenland.
There are a number of points that the post has instantly thrown up: first, European tariffs cannot be changed in this way (as all countries pay the same single tariff).
Second, Portugal has already made it very clear that it backs the European position that Greenland is not for sale. Prime minister Luís Montenegro has endorsed the European Declaration on Greenland’s autonomy, and President Marcelo only yesterday underscored this position, stressing that any military intervention in Greenland by the US that violates international law would be unacceptable, and something therefore that Portugal could never accept.
On this basis, Mr Trump’s threats could move presumably on to ‘other European nations’, like Portugal, that support Denmark .
But whether his tariffs would even be considered legal is another question.
Right now, experts asked for their opinions are saying that Europe needs to remain “calm, firm and polite”: The United States can have all the security interests they seek “with Denmark” – but the situation has to be sorted through dialogue, not threats, or the arbitrary raising of tariffs.
As reports this afternoon are recalling, “the president has repeatedly said Greenland is vital to U.S. security because of its strategic location and large mineral deposits, and has not ruled out using force to take it.”
Confusing his position even further, Mr Trump’s long post today refers to the United States having been trying to purchase Greenland “for over 150 years. Many Presidents have tried, and for good reason, but Denmark has always refused. Now, because of The Golden Dome, and Modern Day Weapons Systems, both Offensive and Defensive, the need to ACQUIRE is especially important” – but he concludes that “The United States of America is immediately open to negotiation with Denmark and/or any of these Countries that have put so much at risk, despite all that we have done for them, including maximum protection, over so many decades.”
On a cold and rainy afternoon in Portugal poised for presidential elections tomorrow, no member of government has made any reference to this latest announcement by Mr Trump.
In Denmark and Greenland, meantime, there have been protests against the US President’s threats and demands which have seen European leaders warn that any unilateral moves by the US in such regard would lead to the collapse of NATO – the military alliance that Washington ostensibly ‘leads’.
Below is an image of just one of the protests going on in northern Europe today. The message reads: “Trump’s tyranny is bringing people and nations together like never before”.
Sources: Truth Social/ BBC/ Lusa
