https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/january-17-2026
"After the extraordinary pushback on President Donald J. Trump’s bizarre demand
for Greenland, he has responded with what economist Paul Krugman called “a howl
of frustration on the part of a mad dictator who has just realized that he
can’t send in the Marines.”
In a long screed this morning, Trump’s social media account said the president
is placing tariffs of 10% on all goods from the countries currently protecting
Greenland after February 1, and that the tariffs will increase to 25% on June
1. The post says the tariffs will be in effect “until such time as a Deal is
reached for the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland.”
This post is bonkers on many levels. On the most basic: where is he thinking
he’s going to find the money for “the complete and total purchase of
Greenland?” And besides, the countries involved—Denmark, Finland, France,
Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom—are all U.S.
allies. Economist Justin Wolfers notes this trade war will include the entire
European Union, for “[a] trade war with one EU country is a trade war with the
entire EU.”
The post also makes explicit that Trump is trying to use tariffs not to nurture
the American economy but to force other countries to do his bidding. The
question of whether his tariff wars are constitutional because they address
what he claims is an economic emergency is currently before the Supreme Court.
Two lower courts have found that the president does not have the power to levy
the sweeping tariffs he has been announcing. Today’s tariff announcement does
not refer at all to economic need but rather is about economic coercion.
Finally, in its insistence that only the U.S. can “protect” Greenland, the
screed echoed Russian president Vladimir Putin’s promises to “protect” Ukraine.
Ignoring the reality that Greenland is part of the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization (NATO), the world’s strongest defense alliance, it said that
Greenland and Denmark, of which Greenland is a part, “currently have two
dogsleds as protection, one added recently.” It also added that the protection
Trump insists only U.S. ownership of Greenland can provide might also include
“the possible protection of Canada.”
As huge demonstrations of solidarity broke out today in Copenhagen and Nuuk,
the capitals of Denmark and Greenland, respectively, both the European Council,
made up of the heads of state or governments in the European Union, and the
European Commission, the primary executive branch of the European Union,
weighed in on Trump’s threats.
President of the European Council António Costa and President of the European
Commission Ursula von der Leyen issued a joint statement, underlining that
“[t]erritorial integrity and sovereignty are fundamental principles of
international law. They are essential for Europe and for the international
community as a whole.” The two leaders reiterated that they are committed both
to dialogue with the U.S. and to standing firm behind Denmark and the people of
Greenland.
“Tariffs would undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward
spiral,” they wrote. “Europe will remain united, coordinated, and committed to
upholding its sovereignty.”
The European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,
Kaja Kallas—the EU’s chief diplomat—wrote: “China and Russia must be having a
field day. They are the ones who benefit from divisions among Allies. If
Greenland’s security is at risk, we can address this inside NATO. Tariffs risk
making Europe and the United States poorer and undermine our shared
prosperity.”
Representatives from the twenty-seven countries in the European Union are
holding an emergency meeting tomorrow."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
