Trump Escalates Greenland Takeover Push with Tariff Threats on NATO Allies; EU Holds Emergency Summit

In a dramatic escalation of geopolitical tensions, U.S. President Donald Trump has intensified his administration’s efforts to acquire Greenland from Denmark, threatening to impose new tariffs on eight NATO countries that have opposed the move or agreed to send troops to the island in support of Danish sovereignty.

The threats, announced over the weekend, target nations including Denmark, the UK, Spain, and others, with Trump stating that non-compliance with U.S. interests in the Arctic territory could lead to economic penalties aimed at pressuring allies into alignment. This comes amid broader U.S. foreign policy shifts, including a global trade war and prioritization of “America First” agendas. European leaders have condemned the threats as risking a “downward spiral” in transatlantic relations, with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez warning that any U.S. invasion of Greenland would severely harm NATO’s cohesion.

The European Union convened an emergency summit on January 18, 2026, to coordinate a response, opting to restrain immediate trade measures in hopes of de-escalating the situation while emphasizing unity against unilateral actions. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer downplayed retaliatory tariffs, calling them “the wrong thing to do” during an emergency press conference, highlighting the UK’s reluctance to engage in a trade war despite the pressure. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, en route to the World Economic Forum in Davos, described Trump’s actio

ns as an “escalation” and planned discussions with EU leaders on the matter. The Greenland dispute has drawn widespread international criticism, with leaders at Davos expected to address it alongside other Trump-driven issues, underscoring fears of eroding multilateralism.