Norwegian PM on Trump’s Tariff over Greenland: We Must Make Things Clear
Maritime patrol vessel in Nuuk, Greenland. Last week, Denmark and Greenland agreed to increase military presence in and around Greenland, in close cooperation with allies. (Photo: Birgitte Annie Hansen / High North News)
"During the past year, the seven Arctic NATO countries have worked on an Arctic strategy that the other countries have nodded to," says Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. That military personell went to Greenland to map out possible cooperation, was also nodded to, including by the US, he adds.
"It is new that we, in the Alliance consisting of 32 countries that ensures collective security, have one country which claims territory from another country within the Alliance – and does not even rule out using force to make it happen," says Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre (Labor), referring to US President Donald Trump's remakrs of taking over Greenland.
Støre made the statement at a conference organized by the Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise (NHO) Rogaland on Monday morning. He also commented on Trump's announcement of 10 percent tariff on Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom until a "complete and total purchase of Greenland", as Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
Imposing a tariff on Norway
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre spoke at a business conference in Norway on January 19th. (Photo: Mona Sæverud/Prime Minister's Office)
"The fact that President Trump is presenting punitive tariffs this weekend is also new. He does not do this because of the economy and trade balance, but as a political means against seven countries that have sent military personnel to Greenland as part of NATO's work for security in the Arctic and to plan how we can work together for security in the Arctic," Støre continued.
Last week, it was revealed that the eight aforementioned countries would send military personnel to Greenland to map out further cooperation.
The prime minister explained that two colonels from the Norwegian Joint Headquarters in Bodø, Northern Norway, went to Greenland with colleagues from other countries.
"He [Trump ed. note] is allegedly imposing a ten percent tariff on Norway and the other countries from February 1st, with an increase later this year if he does not get Greenland. This is unacceptable. We must make that clear."
Focus on the High North
Furthermore, Støre points out that 21 years have passed since he, as Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Stoltenberg II Cabinet, helped put the High North on the agenda, as Norway's most important strategic focus area. This line has been followed by successive governments since.
"We have worked with NATO allies to take responsibility together, including for this part of NATO's territory, the Arctic and the High North, in a safe and responsible way, to ensure stability and security," said Støre, and added:
"During the past year, the seven Arctic NATO countries have worked on an Arctic strategy that the other countries have nodded to. That military personell went to Greenland to map out possible cooperation, was also nodded to, including by the US."
