Donald Trump has vowed to 100% follow through on his threat to impose tariffs on European countries who oppose his demand to take control of Greenland.
European allies have rallied around Greenland's sovereignty. Denmark's foreign minister emphasised the US president cannot threaten his way to ownership of the semi-autonomous Danish territory.
UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper reiterated the UK's position that the future of Greenland is for Greenlanders and for the Danes alone to decide.
On Monday, Trump declined to rule out the use of force and insisted he would press ahead with the threatened tariffs on goods arriving in the US from the UK and seven other NATO-allied countries.
Asked by NBC News if he would use force to seize Greenland, Trump answered: No comment.
The US president stated he would charge Britain a 10% tariff on any and all goods sent to the US from February 1, increasing to 25% from June 1, until a deal is reached for Washington to purchase Greenland from Denmark.
Trump indicated the same would apply to Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Finland, all members of NATO.
In response, Danish foreign minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen stated, You can't threaten your way to ownership of Greenland. I have no intention of escalating this situation.
The European Union is set to hold an emergency summit in Brussels to discuss Trump's threats, with leaders like Kaja Kallas, EU's foreign policy chief, asserting that sovereignty is not for trade.
Trump commented, Europe ought to focus on the war with Russia and Ukraine because, frankly, you see what that's gotten them... That's what Europe should focus on - not Greenland. Danish officials have warned that US military action in Greenland could lead to the end of NATO.
