Washington is resorting to direct economic threats in its drive to establish control over Greenland. President Donald Trump announced his readiness to impose tariffs on nations that impede the Arctic island’s transfer to U.S. jurisdiction, according to a report by AP.
The White House ultimatum is clearly aimed primarily at Denmark, which governs Greenland as an autonomous territory within the Kingdom, as well as its European allies who have presented a united front in support of Copenhagen.
The European Response and the White House Reaction
Trump’s sharp statement came in response to demonstrative steps taken by European nations intended to reinforce Danish sovereignty over the island.
The day before, on January 15, seven European countries officially announced they had accepted Denmark’s proposal to participate in joint military exercises. The stated goal of the maneuvers is strengthening Greenland’s security, serving as an unambiguous signal to Washington rejecting its territorial ambitions.
The U.S. administration quickly responded to this European démarche. Commenting on the decision by the seven countries to support Denmark militarily, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that this step would not affect the President’s strategic objective. She emphasized that Trump’s desire to make Greenland a U.S. territory remains unchanged.
