Trump Announces Tariffs on Germany and European Allies Amid Greenland Dispute

US President Donald Trump has declared tariffs on Germany and seven other European nations including Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Finland, in response to their opposition to his plans to acquire Greenland. Starting February 1, 2026, a 10% tariff on all goods sent to the US from these countries will be imposed, rising to 25% on June 1 if no agreement on the purchase of Greenland is reached. Trump has stated that these tariffs will remain until a “total acquisition” deal is finalized.

Trump justified the move by emphasizing Greenland's strategic importance for US national security, warning that Russia or China might take control of the island if the US does not act. He also criticized the presence of NATO troops, including German soldiers, sent on reconnaissance missions to Greenland as a "very dangerous situation" and a "dangerous game" that complicates the security landscape.

Responding to rising tensions, European NATO countries, led by Germany, have dispatched soldiers—around 13 to 15 Bundeswehr personnel—to Greenland to assess conditions for joint military exercises and improve regional security. These deployments came at Denmark’s request to ease US concerns, given Greenland’s autonomous status within Denmark and NATO membership.

The dispute has sparked widespread protests in Denmark and Greenland, with thousands rallying against the US annexation plans. Copenhagen's mayor strongly declared that "Greenland is not a commodity." High-level talks, including a recent crisis meeting between Danish and Greenlandic officials and US leaders Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance, ended without resolution, as Denmark firmly opposes any US takeover.

Trump has not ruled out the use of force to secure Greenland, signaling the high stakes involved in this geopolitical standoff. The tariffs and military moves underscore the intensifying conflict over the Arctic island, central to global power balances and national security calculus.