Plays into REE hands18 Jan 2026 09:03
With the rare earths assets in Africa?
US President Donald Trump is seeking to force the hand of his European allies, as he threatens to impose more tariffs on eight countries unless a deal is reached for the “complete and total purchase of Greenland”.
Countries including the UK, France, Germany and Denmark face 10% tariffs on exports to the US from 1 February - rising to 25% in June - unless they accede to Trump’s demands.
The US president says “world peace is at stake” as China and Russia “want Greenland”. Only the US can “play this game”, he adds, stressing that he needs control of the island to ensure his new “Golden Dome” defence system works “at its maximum potential and efficiency”.
Trump's threat is beyond parallel and reality, our economics editor writes, leaving officials in all eight countries baffled - and will lead to relations taking a dive, our Europe digital editor adds.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer even issued a rare rebuke, as he reiterates that it is for the people of Greenland and Denmark to make the decision about its future.
And, at the same time Trump was issuing his fresh demands today, many residents in Greenland's capital Nuuk were marching, bearing banners that read: "Greenland is for Greenlanders".
We're pausing our live coverage there, but we'll keep our news story updated with any developments.