Trump threatens tariffs over Greenland, calls it vital for security

US delegation seeks to lower US-Denmark-Greenland tensions amid Trump’s threats of tariffs and control claims.Published On 16 Jan 2026US President Donald Trump says he may impose tariffs on countries that don’t back the United States’s claim to control Greenland, a message that came as a bipartisan congressional delegation sought to lower tensions in the Danish capital.Since Trump returned to the White House in January, he has repeatedly insisted that the US control Greenland, a semiautonomous territory of NATO ally Denmark, and said earlier this week that anything less than the Arctic island being in US hands would be “unacceptable”.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3France to launch Greenland consulate in ‘political signal’ to USlist 2 of 3‘We choose Denmark’ over joining US, says Greenland PM Nielsenlist 3 of 3‘I hope they show humanity’: Greenlanders fear Trump’s desire for mineralsend of listDuring an unrelated event at the White House about rural healthcare, he recounted on Friday how he had threatened European allies with tariffs on pharmaceuticals.“I may do that for Greenland too,” Trump said. “I may put a tariff on countries if they don’t go along with Greenland, because we need Greenland for national security. So I may do that,” he said.Trump has said Greenland is vital to US security because of its strategic location and large supply of minerals, and has not ruled out the use of force ⁠to take it.He had not previously mentioned using tariffs to try to force the issue.Earlier this week, the foreign ministers of Denmark and Greenland met in Washington with US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.That encounter didn’t resolve the big differences, but did produce an agreement to set up a working group — on whose purpose Denmark and the White House then offered sharply diverging public views.European leaders have insisted that only Denmark and Greenland can decide matters concerning the territory, and Denmark said this week that it was increasing its military presence in Greenland in cooperation with allies.A bipartisan delegation of US lawmakers met the leaders of Denmark and Greenland in Copenhagen on Friday, seeking to “lower the temperature” with assurances of congressional support to recognise Greenland as an ally, not property, after Trump’s threats to seize the Arctic island.