President Donald Trump has doubled down on his campaign to annex Greenland, insisting there is “no going back” on his ambitions despite widespread international criticism.
Trump said he had spoken with NATO chief Mark Rutte and planned a meeting at the 2026 World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, to discuss the escalating row. “I agreed to a meeting of the various parties in Davos. As I expressed to everyone, very plainly, Greenland is imperative for national and world security. There can be no going back—on that, everyone agrees,” Trump said. He described the U.S. as “the only power that can ensure peace throughout the world—and it is done, quite simply, through strength.”
Both Greenland and Denmark have repeatedly stated the Arctic island is not for sale. Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said last week: “If we have to choose between the United States and Denmark here and now, we choose Denmark.” The White House, however, has refused to rule out using military force to acquire the territory. Trump has argued that Denmark cannot guarantee Greenland’s security against Russian and Chinese interests.
In response to recent European commitments to send troops to Greenland for military exercises, Trump threatened a 10% tariff on Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Finland, and the United Kingdom starting February 1. He warned the tariff would rise to 25% on June 1. The announcement sparked outrage among European leaders and some U.S. Republicans, who described the tariffs as “unnecessary, punitive, and a profound mistake.”
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer issued a rare public rebuke, calling the threat “completely wrong.” He said such economic measures were not an appropriate way to resolve differences within an alliance and stressed that “a trade war is in no one’s interest.” Starmer called for “calm discussion between allies” to de-escalate tensions.
Trump used the moment to criticize the U.K.’s decision to hand over sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, calling it “an act of great stupidity.” The deal, signed last year, allows the U.K. to lease back the military base on Diego Garcia, a site shared with the U.S. for strategic purposes. Trump warned the move signaled weakness to China and Russia, reinforcing his argument for Greenland’s acquisition.
A U.K. government official rejected Trump’s claims, emphasizing that the Diego Garcia deal protected national security and had been publicly welcomed by the U.S., Australia, and other Five Eyes allies.
Amid the tensions, U.S. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson addressed the U.K. Parliament Tuesday, emphasizing cooperation. “We’ve always been able to work through our differences, calmly as friends. We will continue to do that. I want to assure you this morning that that is still the case,” he told lawmakers.
Trump also shared digitally-altered images portraying Greenland under U.S. control, highlighting the President’s determination to push his territorial ambitions despite global opposition.
