Donald Trump previously announced that a 10% tariff would be imposed on all goods shipped to the U.S. from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Finland. This decision sparked a sharp reaction from European leaders.
The heads of the European Commission and the European Union, Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa, condemned Trump's threats, pointing to the risk of undermining transatlantic relations.
French President Emmanuel Macron characterized the actions of the American leader as unacceptable, while Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson noted that the country would not succumb to blackmail. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that he intends to discuss the issue of tariffs directly with the U.S., adding that Trump is "completely wrong."
Protests against the U.S. president's initiative took place in Denmark and Greenland. Additionally, eight European countries sent military forces to the island.
It is also worth noting that a bill titled "On the Annexation of Greenland and Granting it State Status" has been introduced in Congress. Trump had previously claimed that the U.S. would "somehow" take control of the island, proposing its purchase during his first presidential term. In March 2025, he expressed confidence in the possibility of annexing Greenland, threatening Copenhagen with trade tariffs in case of refusal.
Greenland is an autonomous territory of Denmark. In 1951, Washington and Copenhagen signed a Treaty for the Protection of the Island, under which the U.S. committed to ensuring its defense against potential aggression.
