WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump’s pledge to slap tariffs on European allies over the Greenland dispute has sent shockwaves through NATO capitals. But analysts suggest this is more than just a real estate whim; it is a high-stakes geopolitical maneuver.
The Strategic Pivot Greenland is rich in rare earth minerals—vital components for everything from smartphones to fighter jets—that are currently dominated by Chinese supply chains. With the Arctic ice melting, new shipping lanes and resource deposits are opening up. Washington views control over Greenland as essential to countering Russian and Chinese influence in the High North.
Coercive Economics Unlike the offer to buy the island in 2019, the 2026 strategy involves the stick rather than the carrot. By threatening tariffs on European automotive and luxury goods, Trump is testing the unity of the EU. The message is clear: economic alliance with the US comes with geopolitical price tags. Whether Denmark buckles under economic pressure or the EU retaliates remains the critical question for the coming months.
