Trump flips his stance at will… “Why did we negotiate?” EU seethes [Lee Sang-eun’s Washington Now]

U.S. President Donald Trump made clear his intention to take Greenland and warned he would impose tariffs on eight European countries that sent troops to Greenland. He threatened to keep levying tariffs until the United States fully takes Greenland. While it is too early to conclude whether tariffs will actually be imposed, given it could be a negotiating tactic, the EU’s earlier tariff talks are being rendered meaningless in an instant—raising broader doubts over whether any deal struck with the Trump administration will hold.

○ “Must be returned to the U.S.”

In a post on social media on the 17th (local time), President Trump claimed that “Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Finland headed to Greenland without even a clear purpose,” calling it “a very dangerous situation for the safety, security, and survival of the planet.” He went on to say that “for world peace and security,” beginning next month on the 1st he would impose a 10% tariff on all goods exported to the United States from the eight countries. He added that starting June 1 the tariff would be raised to 25% and would remain in place “until an agreement is reached on the complete and total purchase of Greenland.”

In the post, he said, “World peace is at risk. China and Russia want Greenland, and Denmark can’t do anything about it,” adding that “only the United States under President Donald Trump can enter this game and do it very successfully.” The logic is that the U.S. must take the territory to counter China and Russia. The United States has maintained five bases in the region since 1951 and can conduct nearly all operations there. But Trump said that for the “Golden Dome,” a space-based missile defense system, the U.S. must own the territory. “Because of angle and boundary issues, this land must be included to realize maximum potential and efficiency,” he said.

Trump also argued that Denmark must “return” Greenland to the United States. “By not imposing tariffs or any other form of cost for many years, we have subsidized Denmark and every EU member state and other countries,” he said, adding, “After centuries, it’s time for Denmark to return it.” Still, he indicated the comments were hardline positioning for talks, saying the United States is “ready to negotiate immediately.”

○ EU deal at risk of being voided

It remains unclear whether the 10% Trump cited would be an additional 10% on top of the existing 10% reciprocal tariff, or what happens to existing agreements. Even if the aim were to impose tariffs temporarily, there is no straightforward mechanism. The U.K. has concluded a separate tariff agreement (tariff rate 10%), but the EU (15%) operates as a single market in which goods move freely. Singling out products from only seven of those countries for additional tariffs would be procedurally difficult and of limited effectiveness.

What is clear is that it is increasingly unrealistic to expect any deal struck with the Trump administration to be honored. Last year, the Trump administration completed negotiations to cut the tariff rate on the EU to 15% in exchange for the EU investing $600 billion in the United States. But this episode has shown that a single remark by Trump could make it all as if it never happened. On semiconductor tariffs as well, the administration is talking about renegotiation as needed rather than keeping existing commitments. The European Parliament had originally planned to put the trade agreement with the United States to a vote on the 26th–27th of this month, but with the Greenland dispute erupting, calls are growing to withhold approval.

The Trump administration is not hiding its intent to apply power politics even to allies. Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff, appeared on Fox News and said, “In light of every legal understanding regarding territorial control that has existed for 500 years (during which Denmark governed Greenland), Denmark cannot control Greenland’s territory,” adding that Denmark “wants the U.S. to defend, with 100% American money, land that is 25% larger than Alaska.” Calling it “an unfair deal for U.S. taxpayers,” he said NATO allies “will support the United States on this issue.”

NATO is simmering. French President Emmanuel Macron said, “We cannot tolerate tariff threats.” U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer also pushed back, calling it “completely wrong.” Over the weekend, large-scale protests condemning U.S. actions took place across Greenland and Denmark. As anti-American sentiment rose, slogans such as “Yankee go home” also appeared.

Washington=Correspondent Lee Sang-eun selee@hankyung.com