Europe and US hit by trade tensions after Greenland troop buildup
Donald Trump (photo: Getty Images)
US President Donald Trump, during a recent conversation with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, suggested that he may have been misinformed about the purpose of European troop deployments in Greenland, according to Sky News.
Journalists report that this possible misinformation was one of the reasons behind his decision to impose tariffs on certain countries.
In his conversation with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the US leader suggested that information about the nature of the military presence on the island may have been incorrect.
White House reaction
Reports indicate that the White House viewed the deployment of European troops in Greenland as a potential provocation.
Against this backdrop, trade tariffs were imposed on countries that sent contingents to the island.
The decision was seen in Washington as a response to actions considered a threat to US interests.
London’s position
During the discussion, the British side sought to clarify the situation. According to Sky News, Starmer insisted that the military presence has a different purpose and is not aimed against the US.
Sky News adds that Starmer tried to convince Trump that the troop deployment was about addressing security issues, not countering American threats.
US authorities have explained that attention to Greenland is part of a long-term national security strategy, linked to developments in Europe and the Arctic, as well as the ongoing war in Ukraine.
In Greenland’s capital, Nuuk, there has been a sharp increase in demand for survival goods and long-shelf-life food, reflecting local concerns over possible US intervention.
