WASHINGTON — 16 January 2026, US President Donald Trump said at the White House that the United States could impose tariffs on countries that oppose Washington’s plan to take control of Greenland, despite strong objections from several nations, particularly in Europe.
Denmark, which administers Greenland and is a key US ally as well as a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), has been among the countries rejecting the idea.
Trump said the United States wants Greenland for national security reasons and insisted that Washington must obtain the territory, either through a purchase or by using military force if necessary. He said the island is strategically important despite its small population, citing its mineral resources and its role in early-warning systems for naval and missile threats.
However, Trump did not specify which countries might face higher tariffs, nor did he explain what legal authority he would use to impose such measures in pursuit of acquiring Greenland.
The United States currently has more than 100 troops stationed at Pituffik Space Base, a missile detection facility in Greenland that has been in operation since World War II. Under existing agreements between Washington and Copenhagen, the US is permitted to deploy military forces to the island.
Trump has argued that US ownership of Greenland is necessary to protect it from Russia and China. Danish military officials have disputed that claim, with the head of Denmark’s Arctic Command saying there is no evidence of Russian or Chinese vessels operating around Greenland as alleged.
European countries have voiced support for Denmark and Greenland, stressing that the Arctic is also of strategic importance to Europe and that security in the region is a shared NATO responsibility.
Meanwhile, a bipartisan delegation from the US Congress is visiting Greenland. The group has held talks with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen.
Democratic Senator Chris Coons, who is leading the delegation, said the visit aims to listen to local perspectives and convey them back to Washington in an effort to reduce tensions.
Republican Congressman Jeff Landry said the United States should engage directly with Greenland rather than Denmark and expressed confidence that a deal could eventually be reached to purchase the territory.