European Nations Complete Exercise to Defend Greenland from U.S Takeover Threats

European NATO allies have completed a coordinated military exercise in Greenland as U.S. President Donald Trump escalated pressure on Europe with renewed demands to acquire the Arctic island and the imposition of new tariffs on allied states.

In a joint statement, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the U.K. said the Danish-led exercise Arctic Endurance was pre-coordinated with allies to strengthen Arctic security as a shared transatlantic interest and “poses no threat to anyone.” The countries said they stood in “full solidarity with the Kingdom of Denmark and the people of Greenland” and reaffirmed their commitment to sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Meanwhile, Trump has announced new tariffs on Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the U.K., the Netherlands, and Finland, despite trade deals reached with the U.K. and the European Union in 2025. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said a 10% tariff would take effect on February 1, rising to 25% from June 2026. “This Tariff will be due and payable until such time as a Deal is reached for the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland,” he wrote.

At Denmark’s request, the European countries last week deployed a small number of troops to Greenland, a self-governing, mineral-rich territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. Trump referred to the deployment, calling it “a very dangerous situation for the Safety, Security, and Survival of our Planet,” and claimed the risk to global peace had reached an unsustainable level.

Trump alleged that Russia and China were seeking control of Greenland and said Denmark could not defend it, writing that the country had “two dogsleds as protection” and that only the U.S. was capable of securing the island.

Denmark has rejected those claims. Major General Søren Andersen, Commander of Denmark’s Joint Arctic Command, said on January 17 that Russia and China are not considered current threats to Greenland. A Russian government spokesperson separately dismissed suggestions that Moscow and Beijing intended to occupy the island.

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said, “Applying tariffs on allies for pursuing the collective security of NATO allies is completely wrong.” He reiterated on January 17 that Greenland is part of Denmark and that its future is for Greenlanders and the Danish government to decide, adding that allies must do more in the Arctic “to address the threat from Russia.” Despite being the first country to secure a post-2025 trade deal with Washington, the U.K. faces a 10% tariff rate, lower than the 15% applied to most European Union exports.

France has said the European presence will be reinforced with land, air, and sea assets. President Emmanuel Macron said the deployment was intended to underline that Europe and NATO take Greenland’s defence seriously.

A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers visited Copenhagen on January 16 to reassure Danish and Greenlandic officials of their support for the island’s current status.