America's hunger for Greenland is tearing NATO apart

Donald Trump could gain an island and lose a continent.

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People waving the flag of Greenland as they gathered in Nuuk on Jan 17 to protest against US President Donald Trump and his proposal to take over the territory. The European Union has held back from heavy retaliation to Mr Trump's tariffs in part because of its dependence on American military power. But his threat may change that calculus.

(PHOTO: JULIETTE PAVY/NYTIMES)

America’s hunger for Greenland is setting off an explosive row within NATO. President Donald Trump, infuriated by European allies’ resistance to his effort to annex the autonomous Danish territory, said on Jan 17 that he would impose 10 per cent tariffs on imports from eight European countries that had sent troops there two days earlier. European leaders vowed not to be bullied.

In a rambling social-media post, Mr Trump accused allies of causing “a very dangerous situation for the Safety, Security, and Survival of our Planet”. He said the 10 per cent impost would rise to 25 per cent in June and continue “until such time as a Deal is reached for the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland”. Talks between American and Danish officials last week produced no deal. As thousands of Greenlanders and Danes took to the streets to say the territory was “not for sale”, European leaders responded angrily to the tariff threat.

“No intimidation nor threat will influence us, neither in Ukraine nor in Greenland,” said Mr Emmanuel Macron, the French President. Mr Ulf Kristersson, Sweden’s Prime Minister, offered a similarly defiant message: “We will not allow ourselves to be blackmailed.” Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the threat of American tariffs “completely wrong”. EU leaders promised they would consult and respond.