President Donald Trump is suggesting new taxes on countries that do not help him take control of Greenland. He shared this idea during a health event at the White House on Friday morning. The President believes that owning the island is a top priority for American national security. He warned that if other nations do not agree with his plan he might use tariffs as a way to punish them.
This move comes after months of the President insisting that the United States needs the island for its defense. He is worried that if America does not act then Russia or China might try to take it over instead. Greenland is currently a self-governing territory that belongs to Denmark. The Danish government has already said very clearly that the island is not for sale and should remain independent.
World leaders and many people in Greenland are feeling nervous about these new threats. Some European countries have even started sending military staff to the area just to keep an eye on things. Meanwhile a group of lawmakers from both parties in the U.S. traveled to Denmark to try and calm everyone down. They want to show that not everyone in Washington agrees with the idea of taking over an ally’s land.
The President did not say exactly which countries he would target with these new taxes. He did mention that he already put similar taxes on medicines coming from Europe to help lower costs at home. It seems he views these trade rules as a powerful tool to get what he wants from other nations. For now the situation remains a major disagreement between the United States and its friends in Europe.
