Prime Minister Mark Carney has voiced serious concern over a new international dispute ignited by U.S. President Donald Trump, who is threatening to impose punitive tariffs on eight European allies. The conflict centres on Trump's renewed push for the United States to purchase Greenland, a semi-autonomous Danish territory.
Tariff Threats and Canadian Concern
Speaking at a news conference in Doha on Sunday, January 18, 2026, Carney labelled the situation "serious" and stated Canada is "concerned about this escalation." His comments came in direct response to an announcement from President Trump, who took to social media the previous day to declare that eight European nations would face a 10% tariff starting February 1.
The nations targeted are Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Finland. Trump warned that if a deal for the U.S. to acquire Greenland is not finalized by June 1, the tariff rate would skyrocket to 25%.
Defending Sovereignty and Arctic Security
Prime Minister Carney firmly reiterated Canada's stance on the principle of national sovereignty. "We always will support sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries wherever their geographic location is," he asserted. He emphasized that "decisions about Greenland are for Greenland and Denmark to decide."
Carney also connected the security of the Arctic island directly to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). He revealed he had discussed enhancing the "security umbrella" for the region with the NATO secretary-general in Paris just ten days prior, noting that "Canada is working on already." This statement aligns with the position of the eight European countries, which have warned that a U.S. military seizure of a NATO territory could potentially collapse the alliance.
The Roots of the Dispute and Upcoming Face-to-Face
The tariff threat was reportedly triggered by the European nations moving troops to Greenland. This defensive manoeuvre was a reaction to the Trump administration floating the idea of using the U.S. military to facilitate the acquisition of the territory.
The diplomatic clash is set to move to a new stage this week, as both Carney and Trump are scheduled to attend the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. When asked what he would say to the U.S. President about the issue, Carney offered a straightforward reply: "I'm going to say everything I just said." This sets the stage for a potentially tense encounter between the two leaders at the global summit.
