US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has doubled down on President Donald Trump’s push to take control of Greenland, arguing that Europe lacks the power to ensure its own security and must rely on the United States.
Speaking to NBC News on Sunday, Bessent dismissed European opposition to Trump’s stance, saying Washington is ready to use strategic leverage to achieve its goals.
“Europeans project weakness, US strength”
Bessent made it clear that Trump’s approach was not a negotiating bluff, suggesting the president remains firm about Greenland’s strategic importance.
“The Europeans project weakness, the US projects strength,” Bessent told reporters. “The President believes that increased security is not possible without Greenland being part of the US.”
He added that European leaders would eventually accept Washington’s position.
“European leaders will come and understand that they have to be under the US security umbrella,” he said.
Tariff threat dismissed as leverage
Bessent also brushed off threats by the European Union to suspend a trade deal struck with the Trump administration last year, arguing that the deal had not been completed.
“First of all, the trade agreement has not been finalized and an emergency action may be very different from another trade agreement,” Bessent said. Trump added that he was “using his emergency powers” to do so.
On Saturday, Trump announced a 10% tariff on goods from eight European countries starting February 1, rising to 25% in June unless a deal involving the “buying of Greenland” is reached.