NBC News Interview
"Europe Should Focus on the Ukraine War... Not Interested in the Nobel Peace Prize"
Bessent Criticizes European Retaliation Plans as "Unwise"
Donald Trump, President of the United States, has warned that he will definitely implement plans to impose high tariffs on Europe in response to its opposition to the United States' annexation of Greenland. While he maintained a cautious stance regarding the possibility of military options for Greenland, he urged Europe to focus on the war in Ukraine rather than the issue of Greenland.
On January 19 (local time), in a phone interview with NBC News, President Trump was asked whether he would actually impose tariffs on European countries if negotiations over Greenland were not concluded. He responded, "I will do it 100%."
Previously, President Trump had announced that he would impose tariffs on imports from eight European countries until an agreement for the "complete and comprehensive" purchase of Greenland was reached. As a result, he declared that Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Finland would be subject to a 10% tariff starting February 1, and a 25% tariff beginning June 1.
He also strongly criticized Europe's diplomatic and security response in relation to the war in Ukraine.
President Trump stated, "Europe should focus on the war between Russia and Ukraine. Frankly, everyone can see what consequences that war has brought to Europe," emphasizing, "What Europe should be focusing on is the war in Ukraine, not Greenland."
However, when asked whether he was willing to use force to occupy Greenland, he replied, "No comment," avoiding a direct answer. In relation to this, NBC News analyzed that President Trump showed a "guarded" attitude regarding how far the United States might go in the annexation of Greenland.
Regarding the Nobel Peace Prize, President Trump said he was "not interested," but openly expressed his dissatisfaction with the Norwegian government over not receiving the prize last year. He claimed, "Whatever the Norwegian government says, they have complete control over the Nobel Peace Prize selection," adding, "They say they have nothing to do with it, but in reality, they are involved in everything."
Previously, foreign media such as Bloomberg News reported that President Trump had linked his failure to win the Nobel Peace Prize to the need for control over Greenland in a letter sent to the Norwegian Prime Minister the previous day. According to the reports, President Trump stated in the letter, "Despite ending more than eight wars, they decided not to award me the Nobel Peace Prize, so I no longer feel obligated to think only about peace. Of course, peace is always a top priority, but now I can also consider what is good and right for the United States."
In the interview, President Trump emphasized that he had ended eight conflicts and saved many lives through his peace efforts since taking office, and that this was a greater reward than the Nobel Prize. He reiterated, "I am not interested in the Nobel Prize."
In relation to this, members of President Trump's staff also issued warnings about Europe's response to the Greenland issue. Scott Bessent, U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, criticized European countries for considering retaliatory measures against the U.S. tariff policy on Greenland, calling it a "very unwise response." The European Union is considering invoking the so-called "trade bazooka," officially known as the Anti-Coercion Instrument (ACI), to counter third countries that economically threaten its member states.
At the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting, which opened in Davos, Switzerland, Secretary Bessent dismissed some reports linking President Trump's Greenland annexation plan with his failure to win the Nobel Peace Prize as a "complete canard." He went on to say, "President Trump views Greenland as a strategic asset for the United States," and emphasized, "We will not entrust the security of our hemisphere to anyone."
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