HELSINKI, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson on Saturday rejected a U.S. tariff threat over Greenland, emphasizing that "We will not allow ourselves to be blackmailed."
Kristersson wrote on social media platform X that only Denmark and Greenland can decide matters concerning Denmark and Greenland. "I will always defend my country, as well as our allies and neighbors," he added.
He also stressed that "This is an EU issue that concerns many more countries than those now being singled out. Sweden is now having intensive discussions with other EU countries, Norway and the UK for a joint response."
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday that the United States will impose 10-percent tariffs on all goods from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, Britain, the Netherlands and Finland over Greenland starting on Feb. 1.
The tariffs would increase to 25 percent on June 1, and would continue until a deal is reached for the United States to purchase Greenland, he said on social media.
Trump's statement came after several NATO members, including Britain, France and Germany, sent military personnel to Greenland at the invitation of Denmark.
Greenland is a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, with Copenhagen retaining control over defense and foreign policy. The United States maintains a military base on the island. Since returning to office in 2025, Trump has repeatedly expressed a desire to "obtain" Greenland and has recently ramped up his threat.
On Wednesday, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen and Greenlandic Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt met U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington. Following the meeting, the Danish and Greenlandic officials said "fundamental disagreement" over the future of Greenland remained. ■