“Europe Will Not Be Blackmailed,” Danish PM Says After Trump’s Greenland Threats

Melbourne: Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has declared that “Europe will not be blackmailed” as European leaders consider their response to US President Donald Trump’s threat to impose tariffs over Greenland.

Trump has warned that he will introduce new taxes on eight US allies—Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom—starting in February if they oppose his proposal to take control of the autonomous Danish territory. He has argued that Greenland is vital to US national security and has not ruled out using force to acquire it, a statement that has drawn widespread international criticism.

In response, the threatened countries issued a joint statement describing Trump’s plan as a risk of a “dangerous downward spiral.” They said tariff threats undermine transatlantic relations and reaffirmed that they “stand in full solidarity with the Kingdom of Denmark and the people of Greenland.”

The statement also emphasised that, as members of the NATO alliance, the countries remain committed to strengthening Arctic security as a shared interest. “We stand ready to engage in dialogue based on the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity that we firmly uphold,” it added.

Separately, Frederiksen wrote on Facebook: “We want cooperation, not conflict. I am encouraged by the clear and consistent message from across Europe: Europe will not be blackmailed.” She stressed that defending the fundamental values on which the European community was built is now more important than ever.

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer confirmed that he held telephone conversations on Sunday with Frederiksen, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte before speaking with Trump. A spokesperson from Starmer’s office said he reiterated that Greenland’s security was a priority for all NATO members and that imposing tariffs on allies for pursuing collective security was “wrong.”

Trump has threatened to impose a 10 percent tariff on goods from the eight European countries from February 1, which could later rise to 25 percent and remain in place until a deal is reached. He described the situation as “very dangerous” for global security and stability.

Greenland, though sparsely populated, is rich in natural resources and strategically located between North America and the Arctic, making it crucial for early warning systems and monitoring regional maritime activity. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Sunday that “Greenland can only be defended if it is part of the US,” adding that such an outcome would benefit Greenland, Europe, and the United States.

However, Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide told the BBC that respect for sovereignty is a non-negotiable principle of international law. “If we are to live in peace and cooperate on shared challenges, mutual recognition of sovereignty and territorial integrity must come first,” he said.

BBC