US President Donald Trump announced on his social network Truth Social on Saturday that he would impose a 10% tariff on the eight countries that stood up for Greenland from February 1. This is to be valid until the question of the acquisition of Greenland by the United States is resolved. The duty may increase to 25% from June 1.
In the post, Trump claims that world peace is at stake. According to him, Russia and China want Greenland, and Denmark cannot do anything about it. He criticizes the countries that for “unknown reasons” have joined the sides of Greenland – Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany and the United Kingdom.
“This is a very dangerous situation for the safety, security and survival of our planet. These countries, who have engaged in a very dangerous game, have exposed the world to a risk that is unsustainable and intolerable,” the US president complains.
The tariffs he is implementing starting February 1 will be 10% on all goods the countries send to the US. If no agreement is reached, tariffs will rise to 25% from June 1. The duties will be “payable and valid until an agreement is reached on the full and total redemption of Greenland.”
He blames Denmark
The American president further criticizes Denmark in the post. According to him, several presidents “for good reason” tried to get Greenland for up to 150 years, but they failed because Denmark rejects the agreement.
“Hundreds of billions of dollars are currently being spent on security programs related to the ‘dome’, including the possible protection of Canada, and this very brilliant but highly complex system can only function to its maximum potential and effectiveness, given the angles, dimensions and borders, if this country is included in it,” Trump writes.
He adds that the United States is open to negotiations with Denmark or any country to be hit with tariffs despite the fact that the United States has “done so much” for them. The US president has long used the imposition of tariffs as leverage in negotiations.
Trump has long argued that Greenland is of fundamental importance to the security of the United States, which must acquire it. He did not rule out the use of force to obtain it either. This week, European countries sent a smaller number of soldiers to the world’s largest island at Denmark’s request.
