Tensions over the future of Greenland escalated Friday as US President Donald Trump threatened to impose tariffs on countries opposing his plans to acquire the Arctic territory.

The warning coincided with a high-profile visit to Copenhagen by a bipartisan delegation of 11 US lawmakers, who signaled a sharp divide between the White House and the American legislature by affirming their support for Danish and Greenlandic sovereignty.

During a rural healthcare event at the White House, President Trump argued that controlling the mineral-rich island is a matter of "national security" to prevent influence from Russia or China.

He warned that he "may put a tariff" on nations that do not support the US stance.

However, the visiting US delegation—led by Democratic Senator Chris Coons and including Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski—told reporters in Copenhagen that the president’s ambitions are not shared by the majority of Americans.

Senator Murkowski emphasized that Greenland should be treated as a "trusted ally, not as an asset," noting that polls show 75% of Americans oppose the acquisition.

The diplomatic friction has also taken a military turn. European nations, including France, Britain, and Germany, have begun deploying personnel to Greenland for "Operation Arctic Endurance," a reconnaissance mission designed to signal a unified front for regional sovereignty.

While Danish Major General Søren Andersen stated the mission is a preparation for potential Russian post-war maneuvers in the Arctic, French officials noted it serves as a signal to Washington that Europe will defend its territorial integrity.

In Greenland's capital, Nuuk, and across major Danish cities, thousands are preparing for "Hands Off Greenland" protests on Saturday.

Organized by Greenlandic associations, the demonstrations aim to demand respect for the territory’s right to self-determination.

Despite a recent White House meeting between Danish and Greenlandic foreign ministers and US Vice President JD Vance, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen maintained that a US takeover remains "completely out of the question."

Source: AFP