World leaders are elevating alarm after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to impose sweeping tariffs on European allies in an effort to strain Denmark into negotiations over Greenland.
The transfer is sparking protests throughout the Arctic and sharp rebukes from Europe and Canada.
On Saturday, 1000’s of individuals marched via snow and ice in Greenland’s capital, Nuuk, chanting “Greenland will not be on the market,” waving nationwide flags.
Police described the demonstration as the most important they’ve ever seen within the metropolis.
About 825 kilometres away, dozens of individuals rallied in Iqaluit, Nunavut, in a present of solidarity with Greenlanders.
“Greenland is owned by the Greenlandic folks,” protesters chanted in Inuktut as they marched for an hour in freezing, windy situations.
The protests got here as Trump introduced he would impose a ten per cent import tax beginning subsequent month on items from eight European nations.
These nations embody Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands and Finland, due to their opposition to U.S. management of Greenland.
Get each day Nationwide information
Get the day’s prime information, political, financial, and present affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox as soon as a day.
The tariff would rise to 25 per cent on June 1 if no deal was reached for what Trump known as the “Full and Complete buy of Greenland.”
The president prompt the tariffs have been leveraged to pressure talks over Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of NATO ally Denmark that Trump says is important to U.S. nationwide safety.
French President Emmanuel Macron mentioned France stands firmly behind Greenland’s sovereignty and rejected the usage of commerce threats.
“Tariff threats are unacceptable and don’t have any place on this context,” Macron wrote on social media, including that Europeans would reply “in a united and coordinated method” if the measures are confirmed.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer mentioned Greenland’s future is for Greenlanders and Denmark to determine.
“Making use of tariffs on allies for pursuing the collective safety of NATO allies is totally improper,” Starmer mentioned, including the problem could be raised immediately with the U.S. administration.
Bob Rae, former Canadian ambassador to the United Nations, additionally chimed in on Trump’s announcement.
The tariff risk may mark a big rupture between the U.S. and its NATO allies.
Greenland already hosts the U.S.-run Pituffik House Base beneath a 1951 defence settlement with Denmark, supporting missile warning, missile defence and house surveillance for the U.S. and NATO.
“There isn’t any signal of the Trump conflict of aggression in opposition to Greenland and Denmark letting up. It’s not about ‘safety’ any greater than Venezuela was about ‘narco-terrorism.’ They’re each about seizing management and plunder.”
He additional added, “No nation, together with my very own, Canada, is secure or safe.”
The tariff risk may mark a big rupture between the U.S. and its NATO allies.
Trump is anticipated to face questions concerning the proposed tariffs and Greenland later this week.
He’s scheduled to attend the World Financial Discussion board in Davos, alongside a number of European leaders he has threatened with tariffs.
— With recordsdata from The Canadian Press
© 2026 International Information, a division of Corus Leisure Inc.
