Closing Up up to now:
The EU’s top diplomat Kaja Kallas talked about a division amongst allies — US and majority EU member countries are portion of NATO — will succor China and Russia
US President Donald Trump’s imposition of a 10% tariff on eight European countries for opposing his plans to control Greenland has created unheard of rigidity throughout the defense power alliance of NATO. (Declare: AFP/File)
Greenland has never fought a battle. But its shadow looms heavenly over the mineral-rich Arctic island, which it appears to be like requires American takeover for the aim of “national security” if US President Donald Trump is to be believed.
Trump’s claims? Russia and China are trying to control Greenland. He, however, has not presented any evidence but his imposition of a 10 percent tariff on eight European countries for opposing his designs on the island has created unprecedented tension within military alliance NATO, of which the US and majority EU members are a part.
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Denmark, which is a NATO ally of the US, is one of the countries to be hit with Trump’s tariff and also the country under which Greenland is an autonomous territory.
Viewing his tariff move as a “dangerous downward spiral”, EU leaders careworn that this will likely “undermine transatlantic household” while also promising to uphold Europe’s sovereignty. The bloc’s top diplomat Kaja Kallas said tariffs will hurt prosperity on both sides of the Atlantic, while distracting from the “core task” of ending Russia’s battle in Ukraine.
“China and Russia want to be having a self-discipline day. They’re the ones who dangle the succor of divisions amongst allies,” Kallas said on X. “Tariffs risk making Europe and the United States poorer and undermine our shared prosperity. If Greenland’s security is at risk, we can address this inside NATO.”
The EU has convened an emergency meeting of ambassadors from its 27 member countries on Sunday to focus on their response to the tariff probability.
‘THESE COUNTRIES PLAYING VERY DANGEROUS GAME’
Trump has talked about from February 1, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Finland will be enviornment to a 10-p.c tariff on all goods despatched to the US.
Making the announcement on social media, he talked about “these countries are playing a in actuality awful sport” and he must take these “strong measures” to “protect global peace and security”.
“On June 1st, 2026, the Tariff will be increased to 25%. This Tariff will be due and payable until such time as a Deal is reached for the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. “These Countries, who’re playing this very awful sport, dangle effect a level of probability in play that is no longer tenable or sustainable. Therefore, it is imperative that, in relate to guard Global Peace and Security, stable measures be taken in notify that this doubtlessly unsafe anxiousness quit rapid, and without interrogate.”
He, however, added that he was “immediately open to negotiation with Denmark and/or any of these Countries”.
SO, WILL THERE BE WAR?
Denmark, a fellow NATO member, as well as so a lot of other European countries dangle deployed troops in fresh days to Greenland.
Responding to the tariff, Denmark’s distant places minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen talked about he is stunned by the reach as only a few days ago he had attended talks at the White Apartment with US and Greenlandic officials on the Greenland interrogate. These talks, alternatively, had failed to iron out differences.
While European leaders bask in British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and Swedish PM Ulf Kristersson dangle denounced the pass as “unacceptable” and “completely wrong”, they’ve also vowed no longer to be intimidated and talked about they stand in “paunchy team spirit with Denmark and the of us of Greenland”.
Their statements are strengthened by the ongoing European military exercise in Greenland. France has said it was designed to show the world that it will defend the territory, even as Denmark said the US had been invited to join the drill alongside NATO allies.
“Of course, the US as part of NATO is invited here,” Major-Fundamental Soren Andersen, the head of Denmark’s Joint Arctic Uncover, informed AFP on board a Danish Navy vessel in the port of Greenlandic capital Nuuk.
Andersen, alternatively, careworn the defense power exercises had been “about what’s occurring in Ukraine” and noted he had never seen any Russian or Chinese ships near the island. Despite the invitation to the US to join the drills, which have been underway over the past few days, no American soldiers have been spotted among the troops.
Trump has insisted the US needs strategically-located and mineral-rich Greenland for “national security”, and has criticised Denmark for no longer doing ample to be decided its security in opposition to competitors Russia and China. He has pursued that argument, despite Greenland – as portion of Denmark – being coated by NATO’s security umbrella.
Even supposing the European defense power presence has been moderately discreet, Greenland has got it well with the authorities telling its inhabitants that more NATO troops will be coming to city.
“There’ll be more defense power flights and ships,” Greenland’s deputy prime minister Mute Egede has said.
According to experts, sending a small European contingent to the island is a matter of “strategic signalling” to the US. But Washington appears to be like unfazed.
“I don’t judge troops in Europe impact the president’s decision-making job, nor does it impact his purpose of the acquisition of Greenland at all,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on January 15.
The US president also appeared to question his country’s core role in NATO over Greenland, while adding that Washington was “talking to” the defense power alliance in regards to the topic.
“We’re going to peep. NATO has been coping with us on Greenland,” Trump told reporters when asked if he will pull the US out of NATO if it does not help it acquire Greenland. “We need Greenland for national security very badly. If we don’t have it, we have a hole in national security, especially when it comes to what we’re doing in terms of the Golden Dome (planned missile defense system).”
BUT, WHAT DOES NATO HAVE TO SAY?
It sounds as if, no longer a lot. Trump’s statements dangle frustrated Denmark and effect unheard of rigidity on NATO, an alliance that has been the bedrock of western security since World Battle II.
European countries, who’re members of NATO, dangle in fresh days proven their crimson meat up for Denmark and Greenland over Trump’s escalating threats, along side by sending troops to the strategic territory. This has thrust NATO chief Trace Rutte into an heart-broken space and his scheme for now: dispute as minute as that you’re going to be in a space to dangle and take a detect at to alternate the topic.
Facing warnings the crisis might presumably well also shuffle the 76-one year-old defense power alliance apart, Rutte has sought to preserve himself and NATO out of the fray. As a substitute, he has tried to deflect Trump’s needs by stubbornly specializing in joint efforts to raise Arctic security, dodged tricky questions and even kept on praising the US leader.
“My characteristic as secretary accepted, I’m very decided – I never ever comment when there are discussions throughout the alliance,” Rutte, billed as “Trump-whisperer”, has talked about.
He has insisted his job is to be decided NATO is doing ample to guard the Arctic – a key justification in Trump’s rationale for making an strive Greenland.
“I judge there is a higher enviornment at stake here, and that is the defence of the excessive north, the defence of the Arctic web allege online,” he said.
Experts said his low-key approach is a way to keep the Americans happy and, in turn, keep the military alliance together. “It’s difficult for Rutte to take the lead here as he has to keep the alliance together and keep the Americans onboard,” talked about Jamie Shea, a faded senior NATO legit now with Chatham Apartment judge tank. “He can’t take the European aspect in opposition to Washington.”
With a war raging in Ukraine and Washington finally drawing closer to Kyiv’s position, NATO’s position seems fragile. But if Trump does eventually press ahead with his threats against Greenland, possibly even resorting to force, the alliance may not have an option but to intervene more forcefully, as per experts.
Despite bold statements from European leaders, pushing back at Trump is easier said than done. “Telling Trump ‘You can’t do that,’ is not language that he understands,” an EU diplomat informed AFP on condition of anonymity. “We must appease Trump, no longer walk the beast.”
Europe’s hands are tied. While it is surging defence spending to break its security reliance on the US, it still needs Washington help to end the Ukraine war and deter the looming Russian threat to its east.
DO RUSSIA AND CHINA REALLY POSE A THREAT?
Russia and China have increased their security presence in the Arctic, but have not made any claims over Greenland’s sovereignty.
While Russia has expressly said it poses no threat to Greenland, there has been no such statement of denial from China. A few days ago, Russia dismissed as a “myth” it posed a hazard after NATO countries launched troop deployments on the island following “threats” from Moscow and Beijing.
European countries began deploying troops on the island on January 15, shortly after the White House talks between US, Danish and Greenlandic officials failed.
Part of Danish territory “has been included in Washington’s arbitrarily defined sphere of US interests”, Russian distant places ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova talked about. “Against this backdrop, the delusion of some fashion of Russian probability, in moderation promoted by Denmark and other members of the European Union and NATO for heaps of years, is especially hypocritical.”
Germany’s defence ministry has said the reconnaissance mission to Greenland by several European NATO members aims “to explore options for ensuring security in light of Russian and Chinese threats in the Arctic”. But it completely made no camouflage of Trump’s repeated claims to Greenland.
It peaceful, alternatively, echoed the US space that the principle regional probability is posed by Russia and China. Defence Minister Boris Pistorius became quoted as asserting: “Russia and China are more and more the utilization of the Arctic for defense power capabilities, thereby jeopardising the freedom of transport, verbal exchange and trade. NATO will no longer allow this and will proceed to uphold the foundations-based global relate. It is essential for me that we coordinate very carefully within NATO, seriously with our US partners, all over the joint exploration in Greenland below Danish leadership.”
(With agency inputs)
Location :
Brussels, Belgium
First Published:
January 18, 2026, 11:55 IST
News world ‘Russia, China Having A Field Day’: EU Warns Trump’s Greenland Move Is Testing NATO Unity
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