Donald Trump threatens to impose taxes on countries that do not support the U.S. plan to acquire Greenland, stressing the island's strategic importance for security amid opposition from Denmark, NATO allies, and U.S. politicians.
On 16 Jan 2026 GMT+7, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that the United States might use tax measures against countries opposing the plan to annex Greenland, a self-governing territory under Denmark's administration, citing its necessity for U.S. national security.
During a meeting at the White House, Trump said the U.S. might levy taxes on countries that do not align with its Greenland policy but did not specify which countries would be targeted or under which legal authority the measures would be enacted.
Trump's stance comes amid opposition from several countries, including Denmark and the Greenland government. Within the U.S., some Democratic and Republican members of Congress have expressed concern about Trump's proposal. A bipartisan delegation of 11 U.S. lawmakers traveled to Greenland to show support and hear local opinions.
Trump has repeatedly emphasized Greenland's strategic importance to the U.S., including missile early warning systems and control over Arctic shipping routes. Denmark warned that any U.S. military intervention would severely undermine NATO. Meanwhile, European allies such as France, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Finland, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom have voiced support for Denmark and sent troops to Greenland for symbolic patrol missions.