US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent denied that the trade agreement with the European Union (EU) was completely finalized and that the new tariffs on the issue with Greenland could undermine the confidence of other partners in negotiations with the Americans. The statements were made this Sunday on the program Meet the Pressyes NBC.
“The trade deal with the European Union has not been finalized. And emergency action could be very different from seeking another trade deal,” he said, defending the additional tariffs imposed this weekend by President Donald Trump, citing as an example that other countries are subject to the same risk. “We’re in a very good balance with China right now, but if they do something to break that balance, Trump would be willing to act. Same with India.”
Bessent noted that Europeans themselves have already had to deal with additional tariffs for buying Russian oil. “The president uses his emergency powers to resolve these issues”, he pointed out.
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Taking Russia’s oil consumption as an example, the Treasury Secretary claimed that Europeans are not capable of shielding their own territory from external threats and, therefore, would not be able to protect Greenland in the event of an attack. “Europeans project weakness, the US projects strength,” he said, adding that America is the “strongest country in the world.”
“It may not be next year, or in the next five years, but the fight for the Arctic is real and we would be obliged to maintain our NATO guarantees. If Russia attacked Greenland or another region, we would be drawn into the conflict”, argued Bessent. “Peace through strength is better, making it part of the US now, and there will be no conflict.”
The secretary also echoed other arguments already used by Trump, such as the importance of the island for national security and the construction of the Golden Dome and missile systems.
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When questioned, Bessent avoided ruling out the possibility of military action in Greenland, limiting himself to saying that he had not spoken to Trump about the matter. He also played down concerns that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) could “end” if the US attacks the island. “Europeans will change their minds and understand that they need to be under our protection, with Greenland under our control”, he stressed.
