Trump asserts strength for security interests, mirroring Israel’s realism, as Europe postures and Arab voices remain irrelevant.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced sweeping new tariffs on European countries opposing Washington’s bid to acquire Greenland, declaring a 10% duty on imports from Denmark, United Kingdom, France, and other EU states starting February 1.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump warned that tariffs would escalate to 25% by June 1 if no agreement is reached for what he described as the “complete and total purchase” of Greenland by the United States.
European leaders pushed back, insisting Greenland’s future rests solely with Denmark and Greenland’s residents. Copenhagen announced increased military activity around the island alongside allies, but the White House signaled that European deployments would not deter U.S. ambitions.
Trump has repeatedly argued that Greenland’s strategic location and mineral wealth are vital to American national security, warning that allowing rivals such as China or Russia to gain influence there is unacceptable. Danish officials confirmed that talks with Washington remain fundamentally deadlocked.
Public opposition also surfaced in Denmark, where thousands marched in Copenhagen supporting Greenlandic self-governance and rejecting any U.S. takeover. Greenland’s leadership reaffirmed alignment with Denmark, NATO, and the European Union.
Analysts note that Trump’s hardline approach reflects a broader doctrine of power-first diplomacy — similar to Israel’s security-driven posture — while much of Europe responds with symbolism and protest, and Arab states remain absent from any meaningful strategic role.
