Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas on Saturday cautioned that President Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs over Greenland could weaken NATO and benefit global rivals, particularly China and Russia.
“China and Russia must be having a field day. They are the ones who benefit from divisions among Allies,” Kallas said, emphasizing that Greenland’s security concerns should be addressed within NATO structures rather than through unilateral U.S. threats.
Her remarks come after Trump announced that starting Feb. 1, 2026, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Finland would face tariffs ranging from 10% to 25% on goods sent to the United States unless Greenland is sold to Washington. Trump mocked Denmark’s Arctic defenses, noting the territory “currently has two dogsleds as protection, one added recently,” and framed the island as vital to U.S. national and global security.
Kallas stressed that the tariffs would hurt transatlantic prosperity. “Tariffs risk making Europe and the United States poorer and undermine our shared prosperity,” she said.
European leaders have already condemned Trump’s proposal, reaffirming Greenland’s status as part of the Kingdom of Denmark and the importance of coordinated NATO exercises in the Arctic. In recent weeks, multiple NATO allies deployed military personnel to Greenland to conduct training operations intended to strengthen Arctic security and protect critical infrastructure.
The U.S. president’s remarks have also sparked protests in Greenland and Denmark. On Jan. 17, thousands marched in Nuuk and Copenhagen carrying banners reading “Greenland is not for sale,” rejecting U.S. annexation efforts.
Kallas concluded by highlighting Europe’s strategic priorities. “We also cannot let our dispute distract us from our core task of helping to end Russia’s war against Ukraine,” she said, underlining the importance of NATO unity in the face of ongoing global security challenges.
