Trump’s Greenland Pursuit: Dutch PM Received Threat Letter, EU Prepares Retaliation

The Hague – The diplomatic crisis over Greenland has taken a bizarre turn. It has been confirmed that Dutch caretaker Prime Minister Dick Schoof was among the world leaders who received a direct, threatening letter from former US President Donald Trump.

In the letter, Trump explicitly links his demand to buy Greenland with his grievance over being snubbed for the Nobel Peace Prize, stating: “Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize… I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace.”

Table of Contents

• The Letter: “Total Control” or Else
• The Punishment: Tariffs for “Military Exercises”
• Dutch & EU Reaction: “Unprecedented”
• Europe Prepares €93 Billion Retaliation
• Key Takeaways
• Dutch Learning Corner
• Community CTA

The Letter: “Total Control” or Else

The letter, primarily addressed to Norwegian PM Jonas Gahr Støre but copied to Schoof, outlines Trump’s rationale with startling bluntness.

Trump’s Argument:
* Security: He claims Denmark is too weak to protect Greenland from Russia or China.
* Ultimatum: “The world is not safe unless we have complete and total control of Greenland.”
* Personal Grievance: He cites the Nobel Committee’s snub as a reason to abandon diplomatic niceties.

The revelation confirms that Trump’s push for the Arctic island is not a joke but a central pillar of his foreign policy strategy, driven by both geopolitical ambition and personal ego.

The Punishment: Tariffs for “Military Exercises”

The Netherlands is in the crosshairs because of its military cooperation with Denmark.

Two Dutch officials were recently in Greenland to prepare for NATO exercises. Trump views this as “foreign interference” in his future real estate acquisition.

As a direct consequence, the US has threatened to impose tariffs on Dutch goods starting February 1st. The Dutch government confirmed the officials have returned home, but the threat of economic sanctions remains.

Dutch & EU Reaction: “Unprecedented”

The mood in The Hague is a mix of disbelief and alarm.

Rob Jetten, leader of D66 and potentially the next Prime Minister, called the tariffs “unprecedented.”

“It is extraordinary for an ally to threaten us with economic war because we are conducting NATO exercises on NATO territory,” Jetten remarked.

A government spokesman confirmed Schoof received the letter but refused to comment on the specific contents, likely to avoid further escalation.

Europe Prepares €93 Billion Retaliation

Brussels is not sitting idly by. The European Commission is working around the clock to prevent the tariffs but is preparing for the worst.

Plan B: Trade War
If Trump proceeds on February 1st, the EU has a list of counter-tariffs ready.
* Target: €93 billion worth of US imports.
* Nuclear Option: The EU could activate its “anti-coercion instrument,” which allows for a complete blockade of US goods in extreme cases.

“We want dialogue,” an EU spokesperson said. “But we will defend our interests.”

Key Takeaways

• The Letter: Trump wrote to Schoof, linking Greenland to his Nobel Prize snub.
• The Threat: Tariffs on Dutch goods start Feb 1st unless demands are met.
• The Reason: US anger over Dutch/NATO military presence in Greenland.
• The Response: EU is readying €93 billion in counter-tariffs.

Dutch Learning Corner

Source / Politics: Government Information Service (RVD) & DutchNews.