US President Donald Trump has sharply increased tensions with Europe by repeating his demand to take control of Greenland, an autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark. His demand has been strongly opposed by Denmark and its European allies, who emphasize that Greenland is “not for sale.”
According to Reuters, Trump has sent a threatening letter to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, saying he no longer feels "compelled to think only about peace" after the Nobel Committee declined to award him the Nobel Peace Prize. The letter comes after Trump warned of a new wave of tariffs on European countries, including Denmark, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Finland, the United Kingdom and Norway, if the US is not allowed to buy Greenland.
In London, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer reacted publicly, calling for “calm discussion among allies” and stressing that any decision on Greenland’s future belongs solely to the people of Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark. “It is not right for Britain to choose between the US and Europe,” Starmer declared, adding that a trade war between allies “is in no one’s interest.”
Starmer said he did not believe Trump was realistically considering military action, but stressed that Britain would not be passive in the face of threats that violate the principles of international law and trust among NATO allies.
Meanwhile, from Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Trump "would go down in history" if he took control of Greenland, without stating whether such an action would be positive or negative.
In Brussels, the European Union is considering a response to Trump's tariff threats. EU leaders are expected to discuss at an emergency summit the possibility of imposing tariffs on 93 billion euros worth of US imports, as well as activating the previously unused Anti-Coercion Instrument, which could limit US access to public tenders, investments and financial services in the European market.
The Greenland crisis is thus turning into an open political and economic clash between the US and its traditional allies, with unpredictable consequences for transatlantic relations and security in the Arctic.
