United States pressures Denmark over Greenland, sparking NATO‑related diplomatic row

In January 2026 President Donald Trump announced a 10% tariff on Denmark, the United Kingdom and other European nations tied to Greenland, warning it would rise to 25% by June if negotiations on U.S. acquisition of the Arctic territory failed. After a meeting with NATO Secretary‑General Mark Rutte at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump cancelled the tariffs and proposed a new framework for Arctic security talks, while Denmark pledged an additional £3.2 billion for Arctic defence and reiterated its sovereignty over Greenland.

U.S. special envoy to Greenland, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, travelled to Nuuk and urged the United States to “put its footprint back” on the island, advocating the repopulation of former military bases such as the Pituffik Space Base, which now supports missile‑warning and space‑surveillance missions. Danish foreign minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen described the envoy role as “unacceptable,” and Greenland’s parliament issued a joint statement rejecting any move toward U.S. or Danish control. European leaders warned that the U.S. pressure could strain NATO’s collective defence.

The dispute highlights growing strategic competition in the Arctic, where Greenland’s mineral resources and location are seen as vital to U.S., Russian and Chinese interests.