U.S. President Donald Trump has sharply escalated tensions with several European allies, announcing plans to impose new tariffs on eight countries unless negotiations move forward on a controversial proposal for the United States to acquire Greenland.

Speaking over the weekend, Trump said the U.S. would introduce a 10% tariff on imports from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, France, Germany, Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. He warned that the duties would rise to 25% on June 1 if no agreement is reached.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump framed Greenland as a strategic asset, arguing that rising interest from China and Russia posed a global security risk. He claimed only the United States could effectively manage the situation, describing joint European military activity near Greenland as destabilizing.

European leaders responded swiftly, issuing a rare joint statement warning that the tariff threat risks undermining decades of transatlantic cooperation. Leaders from Denmark, France, Germany, Finland, Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands, and the U.K. said the move could trigger a “dangerous downward spiral” in relations and reaffirmed their commitment to national sovereignty and collective security.

The leaders rejected Trump’s claims that joint Arctic exercises posed any threat, emphasizing that the operations were conducted transparently under NATO and were intended to strengthen regional security. They stressed that Arctic cooperation remains a shared interest between Europe and North America.

Officials from the European Union also voiced strong opposition. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa said the bloc stood firmly behind Denmark and Greenland, warning that unilateral tariffs could seriously damage trade and diplomatic ties.

The announcement adds new uncertainty to existing trade arrangements. The U.S. currently has agreements capping tariffs at 15% with the EU and 10% with the U.K., and it remains unclear whether the proposed measures would override or stack on top of those deals. The EU is the United States’ largest trading partner, and economists warn that higher tariffs could raise prices on goods ranging from pharmaceuticals to aerospace components.

Political reaction within the U.S. has been mixed. Some Republicans, including Senator Tom Cotton, defended the move, arguing Greenland is strategically vital. Others from both parties warned the policy could backfire. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Thom Tillis said targeting allies could hurt American consumers and businesses while benefiting geopolitical rivals.

European governments also expressed alarm. Danish officials said they were surprised by the announcement but emphasized ongoing cooperation with the U.S. in the Arctic. Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson rejected any suggestion of coercion, stating that decisions concerning Greenland rest solely with Denmark and Greenland themselves. French President Emmanuel Macron described the tariff threat as unacceptable and vowed to coordinate a unified European response.

The dispute unfolds as European forces recently increased their presence in Greenland, including planning support for a multinational exercise known as “Operation Arctic Endurance.” Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen acknowledged that Trump had raised the idea of acquiring Greenland directly but said Copenhagen made clear it was not open to discussion.

As the deadline approaches, questions remain over the legal authority behind the proposed tariffs. Previous measures targeting European imports were imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, a law now under review by the U.S. Supreme Court. A ruling on the scope of presidential tariff powers is expected soon, adding another layer of uncertainty to an already volatile transatlantic standoff.

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