US President Donald Trump vowed on Saturday to impose a wave of escalating tariffs on European allies until Washington is allowed to buy Greenland, in an escalation of the dispute over the future of the sprawling Arctic island belonging to the Kingdom of Denmark.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said that tariffs of 10 percent would take effect on February 1 on Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, Britain, the Netherlands and Finland.
He added that the fees would rise to 25 percent on June 1 and would continue until an agreement is reached allowing the United States to purchase Greenland.
Trump has repeatedly stressed the vital importance of Greenland to US security due to its strategic location and abundant mineral resources, and has not ruled out the use of military force to control it.
In recent days, European countries have sent limited numbers of military personnel to the island at Denmark's request.
Trump wrote: "These countries, which are playing this dangerous game, have put themselves in a position that cannot be sustained or tolerated."
He added, "America is immediately open to negotiating with Denmark and/or any of these countries that pose so many risks despite all that we have provided them, including providing the highest levels of protection, over many decades."
Thousands of people demonstrated across Denmark and Greenland on Saturday to protest Trump's demand to annex the island, calling for respect for the right of its inhabitants to self-determination.
Several EU countries supported Denmark's position, warning that a US military takeover of NATO territory could lead to the collapse of the Washington-led alliance.
Britain also expressed its support for Denmark's position.