18.1.2026
Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen says “Europe won’t be blackmailed”, as she and other European leaders continue to weigh their response to US President Donald Trump’s tariff threats over Greenland.
Trump says he will impose new taxes on eight US allies – Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the UK – in February if they oppose his proposed takeover of the autonomous Danish territory.
He insists Greenland is critical for US security and has not ruled out taking it by force – a move that has drawn widespread criticism.
The countries threatened with tariffs have now issued joint statement, saying Trump’s plan risks a “dangerous downward spiral”.
“Tariff threats undermine transatlantic relations,” they said, reiterating that they “stand in full solidarity with the Kingdom of Denmark and the people of Greenland”.
The countries stressed they are “committed to strengthening Arctic security as a shared transatlantic interest” as members of the Nato military alliance.
“We stand ready to engage in a dialogue based on the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity that we stand firmly behind,” the statement reads.
Separately, Frederiksen wrote on Facebook: “We want to cooperate and we are not the ones seeking conflict. And I am happy for the consistent messages from the rest of the continent: Europe will not be blackmailed.”
“It is all the more important that we stand firm on the fundamental values that created the European community.”
Trump has threatened to impose a 10% tariff on goods from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands and Finland, which would come into force on 1 February, but could later rise to 25% – and would last until a deal was reached.
“These Countries, who are playing this very dangerous game, have put a level of risk in play that is not tenable or sustainable,” he wrote, adding: “This is a very dangerous situation for the Safety, Security and Survival of our Planet”.
The US president insists Greenland is critical for US security and has said previously that Washington would get the territory “the easy way” or “the hard way”.
Greenland is a sparsely populated but resource-rich and its location between North America and the Arctic makes it well placed for early warning systems in the event of missile attacks and for monitoring vessels in the region.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Sunday told NBC News’ Meet the Press that “Greenland can only be defended if it is part of the US, and it will not need to be defended if it is part of the US”.
“I believe that the Europeans will understand that this is best for Greenland, best for Europe and best for the United States,” he said. BBC
Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen with US President Donald Trump.