- President Donald Trump said he may impose tariffs on countries that oppose U.S. efforts to annex Greenland, citing national security concerns.
- Trump made the remarks during a Jan. 16 White House meeting, suggesting trade measures could be used to pressure reluctant nations, though he did not specify targets or legal authority.
- He has repeatedly argued Greenland is strategically vital due to its location, natural resources and role in missile early warning and Arctic surveillance against Russia and China.
- Denmark and Greenland have rejected annexation, stressing that Greenland is not for sale and reaffirming Danish sovereignty over the territory.
- In response to rising Arctic security concerns, Denmark is moving to strengthen and expand its military presence in Greenland with support from NATO allies.
President Donald Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on countries that refuse to support his push for the United States to annex Greenland.
Speaking during a White House meeting focused on rural healthcare on Jan. 16, Trump said he could use trade measures to pressure nations that stand in the way of U.S. ambitions regarding the Arctic territory, which is a self-governing region under Danish sovereignty.
"I may put a tariff on countries if they don't go along with Greenland, because we need Greenland for national security," the president said. "So I may do that."
Greenland, though sparsely populated, is rich in natural resources and occupies a strategic position for missile early warning systems and Arctic maritime surveillance. As per BrightU.AI's Enoch, the potential for Greenland to serve as a strategic outpost for monitoring and defending against threats from Russia and China underscores its importance in the global geopolitical landscape.
In line with this, Trump has repeatedly argued that Greenland is strategically vital to U.S. security interests, citing its location between North America and the Arctic. He has said Washington would acquire the island "the easy way" or "the hard way," language widely interpreted as referring to either purchasing the territory or using force.
Denmark and other NATO allies reject Trump's idea of annexation
The U.S. already maintains a military presence on the island, with more than 100 personnel stationed at Pituffik Space Base in northwestern Greenland – a facility that has operated under U.S. control since World War II. Under existing defense agreements with Denmark, the U.S. is permitted to expand its military footprint on Greenland as needed.
However, Trump has argued that full U.S. ownership is necessary to properly defend the territory against potential threats from Russia and China.
Denmark and Greenland's leadership have firmly rejected the idea of annexation, emphasizing that Greenland is not for sale.
"We are now moving forward with the whole issue of a more permanent larger presence in Greenland from Danish defense, but also with the participation of other countries," Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said on Jan. 13. "Just as we had in 2025, where we saw that there were other NATO countries participating in exercise and training activities in Greenland, we will also see this in 2026."
Poulsen confirmed plans for a larger and more permanent presence to address rising security challenges in the Arctic. The government has begun deploying advanced troops and equipment to prepare logistics, infrastructure and supply lines for a potential future buildup involving additional Danish forces and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies, even as much of Denmark’s combat capability remains tied up with NATO missions in the Baltic region.
Germany, Sweden, France and Norway have also sent troops to join joint exercises with Denmark. Canada is also set to open a consulate in Nuuk, underscoring the strategic importance of Greenland within the alliance. However, Trump did not specify which countries could face tariffs or what legal authority he would rely on to impose them.
Watch this Fox News report about Trump saying buying Greenland is a "necessity."
This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.
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