US President Donald Trump has said that if European countries oppose him on the issue of Greenland, he will definittely implemt his threat to impose 100 percent tariff.
Several European countries have shown solidarity in support of Greenland’s sovereignty. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said that the US president cannot take control of the semi-autonomous Danish territory of Greenland through threats.
British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper also said that only the people of Greenland and Denmark have the right to decide the future of Greenland.
On Monday, Trump refused to say whether he would use force to acquire Greenland. He also made it clear that he would proceed with his plan to impose tariffs on goods coming to the US from Britain and seven other NATO allies.
When asked by media whether he would use force to seize Greenland, Trump said, “No comment.”
The US president said that a 10 percent tariff would be imposed on all goods coming to the US from Britain from February 1, which would increase to 25 percent from June 1, unless an agreement is reached with Denmark to buy Greenland.
Trump said the same rule would apply to Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Finland. All these countries are members of NATO, which was founded in 1949.
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said, “The European Union has no desire for confrontation with anyone, but we will stand firm on our position.”
She added, “But trade threats are not the way to resolve this issue. Sovereignty is not something to be negotiated.”
