Taoiseach: EU will retaliate if Trump applies tariffs over Greenland

As well as Micheál Martin's comments, foreign minister Helen McEntee said 'the future of Greenland is a matter to be determined by Denmark and by the Greenlandic people'

A photo from March of last year when US vice president JD Vance and his wife Usha Vance toured the US military's Pituffik space base in Greenland. Picture: Jim Watson/AP

The EU will “obviously retaliate” if Donald Trump proceeds with threatened tariffs on the bloc in his pursuit of control of Greenland, the Taoiseach has said.

Over the weekend, the US president said Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, and Finland will be charged a 10% tariff “on any and all goods” sent to the US from February 1, increased to 25% from June 1, until a deal is reached for Washington to purchase Greenland from Denmark.

“Tariff threats undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral,” the threatened countries said in a statement on Sunday. “We will continue to stand united and coordinated in our response. We are committed to upholding our sovereignty.”

A protest rally marching to the US consulate in Nuuk, Greenland, on Saturday to protest against US president Donald Trump's threat to take over the island. Picture: Evgeniy Maloletka/AP 

Reports suggest that French president Emmanuel Macron now wants the EU to implement its anti-coercion instrument that can restrict access to the single market for US companies

Micheál Martin said Mr Trump’s threat is “extraordinary” and “unacceptable”.

“The situation in Greenland is very clear, from our perspective," he said. 

The territorial integrity, the sovereignty of Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark cannot be violated. 

Asked on RTÉ radio if the EU would be in a position to hit back at the Trump administration, Mr Martin said it would, but called for dialogue.

“Be in no doubt that Europe will obviously retaliate if these tariffs are imposed, and that will lead to a very serious situation globally.”

Mr Martin said a deal struck between the EU and US in Scotland last year in the face of threats of tariffs was entered into “in good faith” and should be respected.

McEntee: Tilt at Greenland 'unacceptable'

The US position led to strong condemnation from foreign affairs minister Helen McEntee who said the decision “is completely unacceptable and deeply regrettable”. She said: 

"Ireland has been crystal clear that the future of Greenland is a matter to be determined by Denmark and by the Greenlandic people, in line with well-established democratic principles and international law,” she said.

This is a position that will not change. 

Tánaiste Simon Harris described Mr Trump’s tariff threat as “most concerning and very unwelcome” and said he will travel to Brussels for a meeting with European counterparts.

Mr Trump has long proclaimed his interest in controlling Greenland and has claimed the Arctic territory’s current status poses a national security threat to the US, though he has never explained how.

• Paul Hosford, Acting Political Editor