Trump threatens tariffs as US lawmakers voice support for Denmark and Greenland

Donald Trump on Friday warned he could impose tariffs on countries that refuse to back his plan to take over Greenland, as a bipartisan group of US lawmakers travelled to Copenhagen to express support for Denmark and its autonomous Arctic territory.

The congressional delegation, on a two-day visit to the Danish capital, said the US president’s long-standing territorial ambitions — firmly rejected by Denmark — do not reflect the views of most Americans.

European nations have also stepped up support for Greenland, including through a military reconnaissance mission that a Danish general said the United States had been invited to join. The mission is linked to concerns over Russia’s posture after the war in Ukraine.

Reiterating his claim that the mineral-rich island is vital to US “national security,” Trump warned that he “may put a tariff” on countries opposing his stance.

The 11 visiting lawmakers met Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen, along with Denmark’s foreign and defence ministers, parliamentarians and business leaders.

Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski said there had been “good dialogue” and emphasised the importance of strengthening ties between the United States, Denmark and Greenland.

“The vast majority” of Americans do not believe acquiring Greenland is a good idea, she told reporters, adding: “Greenland needs to be viewed as our ally, not as an asset.”

‘One idiot’

The visit followed talks in Washington earlier in the week in which Danish officials said Copenhagen and Washington were in “fundamental disagreement” over Greenland’s future.

Democratic Senator Chris Coons said the purpose of the visit was to “listen respectfully to our friends, our trusted allies and partners here in Denmark and from Greenland.”

The delegation would return to the United States to share those views, he said, in the hope of “lowering the temperature” and encouraging a more constructive dialogue.

In Greenland’s capital Nuuk, residents welcomed the show of congressional support.

“Congress would never approve military action in Greenland. It’s just one idiot speaking,” a 39-year-old union representative told AFP. “If he does it, he’ll get impeached or kicked out. If people in Congress want to save their own democracy, they have to step up,” the source added, speaking anonymously.

Demonstrations

Trump has repeatedly criticised Denmark — a NATO ally — accusing it of failing to do enough to secure Greenland, despite the island already falling under NATO’s security umbrella as part of Denmark.

Major General Soren Andersen, head of Denmark’s Joint Arctic Command, said the United States had been invited to participate in the military mission, which he said was focused on Russia.

“When the war in Ukraine is over, hopefully with a good outcome for Ukraine, we expect Russia to shift resources to other theatres, including the Arctic,” he told AFP. “So we need to step up training and preparedness.”

Andersen said, however, that he had not seen any Russian or Chinese combat ships in the area during his two and a half years in command.

Military presence was more visible in Nuuk on Friday, days after Denmark announced it was strengthening defences on the island. The White House said Trump’s ambitions regarding Greenland would not be affected by the increased European military presence, which France’s armed forces minister described as a signal that Europe was ready to defend its sovereignty.

Britain, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden have announced plans to deploy small numbers of troops for future Arctic exercises.

Large demonstrations are planned across Denmark and Greenland on Saturday to protest Trump’s proposal, with thousands indicating on social media that they will join rallies in Nuuk and in Danish cities including Copenhagen, Aarhus, Aalborg and Odense.