Trump says 'world peace at stake' as he issues tariff threat over Greenland control
Image source, Reuters Image caption, Residents in Nuuk marched as Trump issued fresh demands for the control of Greenland today
US President Donald Trump is seeking to force the hand of his European allies, as he threatens to impose more tariffs on eight countries unless a deal is reached for the “complete and total purchase of Greenland”.
Countries including the UK, France, Germany and Denmark face 10% tariffs on exports to the US from 1 February - rising to 25% in June - unless they accede to Trump’s demands.
The US president says “world peace is at stake” as China and Russia “want Greenland”. Only the US can “play this game”, he adds, stressing that he needs control of the island to ensure his new “Golden Dome” defence system works “at its maximum potential and efficiency”.
Trump's threat is beyond parallel and reality, our economics editor writes, leaving officials in all eight countries baffled - and will lead to relations taking a dive, our Europe digital editor adds.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer even issued a rare rebuke, as he reiterates that it is for the people of Greenland and Denmark to make the decision about its future.
And, at the same time Trump was issuing his fresh demands today, many residents in Greenland's capital Nuuk were marching, bearing banners that read: "Greenland is for Greenlanders".
We're pausing our live coverage there, but we'll keep our news story updated with any developments.
RedBaron121969 on January 17th, 2026 at 17:36 UTC »
Time to threaten to close all the US bases. I would be cancelling the F35 too.
Alusan on January 17th, 2026 at 17:06 UTC »
You can rely on Trump to make demands so wildly insulting that even the weakest and most unimaginative european leaders can't abide by them.
And then follow up with punitive measures that have become so inflationarily thrown around that wether they may or may not happen is anyone's guess. Just to really drive home the point that the US is to be treated as an enemy.
jsm1 on January 17th, 2026 at 16:51 UTC »
Trump is following through on applying tariffs over the Greenland obsession. It starts at 10% on allies on Feb 1, and going up to 25% June 1. I don’t really think this will be effective, and will likely trigger a military buildup of fellow NATO allies in Greenland and possibly a trade war.
Strong arming the UK like this is also a bad faith exercise and I fully expect the UK to push back.