President Trump continues to push for the annexation of Greenland, threatening tariffs and debating NATO allies, seemingly as a reaction to being “snubbed” of the Nobel Peace Prize.
During his first term in 2019, the president expressed his desire for Greenland, where it was turned down by the Danish Prime Minister, Mett Frederiksen, and called “absurd.” The recent vigor the President expressed has come with its own set of private messages, extreme tariffs levied against fellow NATO allies and boldly expressed discontent over the Nobel Peace Prize.
In private messages exchanged between President Trump and Norway’s prime minister Jonas Gahr Støre, Trump stated, “Considering your country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 wars plus, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace.”
While the President later said peace would be predominant, the lack of its prioritization in a time of extreme, violent conflicts across the world, is troublesome. Although the original winner, María Corina Machado gave up her prize to Trump as a “thank you” for his recent actions in Venezuela, the action was not enough to discourage the President’s opposition to the awarders of the prize.
“I have done more for NATO than any other person since its founding,” stated Trump, “and now, NATO should do something for the United States” in regards to allowing the seizure of Greenland.
Trump went on to question Russia and China’s “right of ownership” of the land of Greenland that is due to foreigners finding the land as a result of maritime exploration. According to Trump, the powers of Russia and China pose a threat that Greenland cannot defend itself against, stating, “The world is not secure until the United States has complete and total control of Greenland.”
The release of these comments demonstrates how angry some European leaders are, with the Norwegian Prime Minister atypically releasing private messages between him and Trump. The Prime Minister stands firm in his position that Greenland is a part of the Kingdom of Denmark and should remain that way.
The President plans to achieve this annexation by pressuring objecting European countries with high tariffs. Eight of the United States’ European allies that oppose Trump’s grab for Greenland, including Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Norway and Sweden, are to be hit with a 10 percent tariff on February 1. The tariff is set to increase to 25% on June 1 and to be kept in place until the U.S. reaches a deal to obtain Greenland. These tariffs were announced on the President’s Truth Social account.
Kier Stramer, the United Kingdom’s Prime Minister, opposed Trump’s push for Greenland, but does not believe the United States will resort to violence. He is advocating for calm discussion to resolve the conflict, and called the President’s use of tariffs in this way as “completely wrong.”