Copenhagen, Denmark — European governments criticized US President Donald Trump’s announcement Eight countries will face a 10% tariff To oppose American control of Greenland starting next month.
Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland are on Trump’s list, although it was not immediately clear whether the tariffs would affect the EU as a bloc.
Trump’s threat poses a potentially serious test for US partnerships in Europe. The US President indicated that the customs duties came in response to the publication Symbolic troop levels of European countries To Greenland. The Europeans said the forces were sent in response to Trump’s call to strengthen security in the Arctic.
Here is a look at what the governments of the eight countries said:
“We agree with the United States that we need to do more because the Arctic is no longer a low-tension area,” Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said in a statement. “This is exactly why we and our NATO partners are promoting full transparency with our American allies.”
“There is no place for threats between allies,” Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Sture wrote on social media. “Norway’s position is consistent: Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark. Norway fully supports the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Denmark. There is broad agreement in NATO on the need to strengthen security in the Arctic, including Greenland.”
“We will not allow ourselves to be blackmailed,” Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson wrote on social media. “I will always defend my country, and our allied neighbours. This is an EU issue that concerns far more people than those being targeted now.”
“No intimidation or threats, whether in Ukraine, Greenland or anywhere else in the world, will affect us when we face such situations,” French President Emmanuel Macron wrote on social media. He added: “Threats of customs duties are unacceptable and have no place in this context.”
“The federal government has taken note of the statements made by the US President,” German federal government spokesman Stefan Cornelius wrote on social media. “It is in close coordination with its European partners. Together, we will decide on appropriate responses in due course.”
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in a statement: “Our position on Greenland is very clear – it is part of the Kingdom of Denmark and its future is a matter for Greenlanders and Danes.” “We have also made clear that security issues in the Arctic are for the entire NATO and allies must do more together to address the threat posed by Russia across different parts of the Arctic. Applying tariffs to allies for the collective security of NATO allies is completely wrong.”
“It is inappropriate, because we do not support the use of trade tariffs in situations that have nothing to do with trade,” Dutch Foreign Minister David van Weel said during an interview on the current affairs program WNL op Zondag. “As allies, I don’t think this is the way you should treat each other; don’t seek dialogue with each other, try to put pressure on each other. So no, I’m very unhappy about this.”
Finnish President Alexander Stubb, famous for his relationship with Trump, said: “Issues between allies are best resolved through discussion, not through pressure.” Their shared love of golf“, he wrote on social media. “Tariffs would undermine the transatlantic relationship and risk a dangerous decline,” he added.