WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump on Saturday vowed to implement a wave of accelerating tariffs on European allies till the US is allowed to purchase Greenland, escalating a row over the way forward for Denmark’s huge Arctic island.
In a submit on Reality Social, Trump stated further 10% import tariffs would take impact on February 1 on items from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Finland and Nice Britain — all already topic to tariffs imposed by Trump.
These tariffs would enhance to 25% on June 1 and would proceed till a deal was reached for the US to buy Greenland, Trump wrote.
Trump has repeatedly insisted he’ll accept nothing lower than possession of Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark. Leaders of each Denmark and Greenland have insisted the island is just not on the market and doesn’t wish to be a part of the US.
A ballot of US residents this week discovered that lower than one in 5 respondents help the thought of buying Greenland.
TRUMP WANTS GREENLAND FOR SECURITY, MINERALS
The president has repeatedly stated Greenland is significant to US safety due to its strategic location and huge mineral deposits, and has not dominated out utilizing drive to take it. European nations this week despatched army personnel to the island at Denmark’s request.
“These International locations, who’re enjoying this very harmful sport, have put a stage of danger in play that’s not tenable or sustainable,” Trump wrote.
Protesters in Denmark and Greenland demonstrated on Saturday towards Trump’s calls for and referred to as for the territory to be left to find out its personal future.
The international locations named by Trump on Saturday have backed Denmark, warning that the US army seizure of a territory in NATO may collapse the army alliance that Washington leads.
“The president’s announcement comes as a shock,” Denmark’s International Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen stated in an announcement.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was unusually blunt in condemning Trump’s menace, saying on X that his nation would increase the problem immediately with Washington.
“Making use of tariffs on allies for pursuing the collective safety of NATO allies is totally mistaken,” Starmer stated.
European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa stated in separate however equivalent posts on X that the European Union stood in “full solidarity” with Denmark and Greenland.
“Tariffs would undermine transatlantic relations and danger a harmful downward spiral. Europe will stay united, coordinated, and dedicated to upholding its sovereignty,” they stated.
Officers from Norway, Sweden, France and Germany reiterated help for Denmark on Saturday and stated tariffs shouldn’t be a part of Greenland discussions.
Cyprus, which at present holds the EU presidency, stated it has referred to as for an emergency assembly of ambassadors from the union’s 27 international locations on Sunday. — Reuters
