European leaders, led by United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer, have responded to the U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff announcement on NATO allies supporting Denmark’s claim of Greenland.
In a statement on his Truth Social platform on January 17, 2026, President Donald Trump announced that he was escalating tariffs on Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, The United Kingdom, The Netherlands, and Finland. The tariffs, set to begin at 10% on February 1 and rise to 25% on June 1, target allies opposing the U.S. acquisition of Greenland.
The European leaders have maintained that the island’s status is a matter for Denmark and Greenland and criticised the use of tariffs against allies pursuing collective security.
UK and France Respond, Warn Against US Tariffs on NATO Allies
Keir Starmer, in response to Trump’s announcement, highlighted both the legal status of Greenland and the need for cooperation among NATO members.
He described the proposed tariffs as “completely wrong” and reaffirmed that Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark.
Additionally, Keir Starmer emphasised the importance of Arctic security for NATO allies and stated that the UK would pursue the matter directly with the U.S. administration.
“Applying tariffs on allies for pursuing the collective security of NATO allies is completely wrong. We will, of course, be pursuing this directly with the US administration,” he said.
French President Emmanuel Macron also rejected the tariff threats, stating, “No intimidation or threat will influence us, neither in Ukraine, nor in Greenland, nor anywhere else in the world.”
Also Read: NATO’s Fate at Stake as Trump Administration Takes Firm Stand on Greenland
Macron described the tariffs as unacceptable and stressed that European countries would respond in a “united and coordinated manner” to uphold sovereignty.
In his remarks, Macron stressed the broader EU stance on resisting external pressure in matters of territorial and alliance interests.
Nordic and EU Leaders Reject Tariffs
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, on his part, emphasised that “we will not allow ourselves to be blackmailed or intimidated,” noting that “only Denmark and Greenland decide questions that concern them.”
Kristersson’s statement framed the issue as a European matter and rejected any external pressure on NATO allies.
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre also described the tariff threats as unacceptable in the context of alliance relations.
Also Read: EU Warns United States Military Takeover of Greenland Would Mean End of NATO
He said that Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark and highlighted the broad agreement within NATO on strengthening Arctic security.
Similarly, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed the EU’s full solidarity with Denmark and Greenland.
She warned that tariffs would undermine transatlantic relations and risk a “dangerous downward spiral,” highlighting potential long-term impacts on cooperation between the EU and the U.S.
Each of the EU leaders underlined the principle that Greenland’s future is a matter for Denmark and Greenland and criticized the application of economic measures against NATO allies over Arctic security issues.
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