Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni addressed the ongoing dispute between the United States and several European countries over Greenland during a press interaction in Seoul on January 18, 2026.
Meloni stated that she had spoken with U.S. President Donald Trump “a few hours ago” and told him her views on the matter. She described the proposed U.S. tariffs on European nations contributing to Greenland’s security as a “mistake” and said she does not agree with imposing them.
Multiple reports quote Meloni as saying: “I believe that imposing new sanctions today would be a mistake,” and “The forecast of an increase in tariffs against those nations that have chosen to contribute to the security of Greenland is a mistake and I do not share it.”
🚨BREAKING: Italy’s PM Meloni says President Trump was open to dialogue on Greenland, but Europe sent mixed signals that looked anti-American
— Inevitable West (@Inevitablewest) January 18, 2026
She wants to remind everyone that the US is not a threat or an enemy.
She is the European voice of reason. pic.twitter.com/moIbTLEjBS
She highlighted a “problem of understanding and communication” between Europe and the United States regarding recent European military contributions to Greenland’s security. These include small troop deployments by countries such as Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Finland as part of exercises like Arctic Endurance.
Meloni noted that “from the American point of view, the message that had come from this side of the Atlantic was not clear,” and that the initiatives “should not be read as ‘anti-American,’” as their purpose was to address potential interference by hostile actors such as Russia and China in the Arctic region.
She advocated resuming dialogue to avoid escalation and emphasized that NATO is the appropriate forum for organizing joint deterrence in the strategically important Arctic area. Meloni added that NATO is already beginning work on this issue and that she had also spoken with the NATO secretary general.
The comments follow U.S. President Trump’s announcement of escalating tariffs—starting at 10% and rising to 25%—on goods from the eight mentioned countries until a deal is reached for U.S. acquisition of Greenland, which he cited as necessary for countering Chinese and Russian threats in the Arctic.
In response, the eight countries issued a joint statement warning that the tariff threats “undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral.” They expressed full solidarity with Denmark and the people of Greenland, reaffirmed their commitment to Arctic security as a shared transatlantic interest, and stressed that the deployments pose no threat to anyone.
Joint statement by Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom 👇 pic.twitter.com/Gxf3F1Dc3p
— Denmark MFA 🇩🇰 (@DanishMFA) January 18, 2026
Protests against any U.S. annexation or takeover of Greenland took place on January 17, 2026, in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, where thousands participated—representing a significant portion of the city’s population—and in several Danish cities. Demonstrators carried signs such as “Greenland is not for sale” and chanted against U.S. control.
EU ambassadors held an emergency meeting in Brussels, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa issued a joint statement pledging continued solidarity with Denmark and Greenland while warning of the risks posed by tariffs.
Meloni indicated she would continue discussions with European leaders throughout the day, including at the ambassadorial level, to promote dialogue.
The situation remains fluid, with European leaders expressing concerns over the impact on transatlantic relations while Meloni’s remarks focus on addressing perceived misunderstandings through established alliances like NATO.
