The president Donald Trump warned this Friday that he might impose tariffs on countries that oppose the United States' plans to acquire Greenland, emphasizing that the island is crucial for the national and strategic security of his administration.
During the rural health investment roundtable at the White House, Trump stated that he would consider imposing new trade tariffs on countries that do not support his plans to take control of the largest island in the world, which belongs to the Kingdom of Denmark.
“Countries could face tariffs if they do not align with Greenland, because we need Greenland for national security,” he stated before journalists, reported the network Fox News.
The statements were made while the Republican administration awaits a ruling from the Supreme Court regarding the legality of certain tariffs imposed in 2024, adding a legal dimension to the renewed trade offensive by the president.
In recent weeks, Trump has intensified his rhetoric about Greenland, the autonomous territory under Danish sovereignty that hosts a U.S. military base and occupies a strategic position in the Arctic.
The progressive melting resulting from climate change has increased its geopolitical value by opening new maritime routes and facilitating access to natural resources.
The renewed insistence of the president has raised concerns in Denmark and among other allies of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
In response, European countries such as France, Germany, Sweden, and Norway have deployed troops in Greenland as a preventive security measure, according to international reports.
Trump had already proposed the idea of acquiring Greenland during his first term, a suggestion that was then outright rejected by Copenhagen and mocked by European leaders.
Skepticism has resurfaced now, accompanied by warnings about the impact that a forced annexation would have on the stability of the Atlantic Alliance.
On the domestic front, the initiative also lacks broad support. According to a Quinnipiac University poll, 86% of American voters oppose military action to take control of Greenland.
Moreover, 55% reject any attempt at purchase, compared to 37% who support it.
Nevertheless, Trump has insisted that the island is crucial for the defense of the United States against the influence of Russia and China in the Arctic, and he has reaffirmed that he does not rule out any economic or strategic tools to achieve his goal.
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