EU ambassadors to meet after Trump vows tariffs tied to Greenland

Ambassadors from the European Union’s 27 member states will convene on Sunday for an emergency meeting after US president Donald Trump said he would impose tariffs on several European countries until the United States is allowed to buy Greenland. Cyprus, which holds the EU’s rotating presidency, called the meeting late on Saturday; EU diplomats said it was set to start at 5pm (4pm GMT).

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he would impose a 10% tariff on Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland beginning 1 February on “any and all goods sent to the United States of America”, rising to 25% on 1 June, and that “This Tariff will be due and payable until such time as a Deal is reached for the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland.” The president’s longstanding interest in acquiring Greenland “one way or the other” has, the report said, become a fixation since the US raid that captured Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro earlier in January.

Trump has claimed the territory’s current status poses a US national security threat, a claim disputed by US allies, including Denmark. Trump also said forces from the eight European nations “have journeyed to Greenland, for purposes unknown”, an apparent reference to Nato allies deploying troops in Greenland on Thursday in response to his threats.

Key Topics

World, Donald Trump, Greenland, European Union, Denmark, Cyprus