U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Thom Tillis, who co-chair the bipartisan Senate NATO Observer Group, released a statement addressing the recent threat of tariffs against several key American allies: the United Kingdom, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, and Norway.
In their statement, the senators emphasized the longstanding partnership between the United States and these countries. "The United Kingdom, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Norway are America’s closest allies. They are our NATO Allies who have fought beside us, died alongside us and have made America safer and more prosperous."
The senators also referenced their recent meetings in Copenhagen with Danish and Greenlandic officials. They said that both Denmark and Greenland expressed a strong interest in working with the United States on shared security priorities. "Over the course of our bi-partisan meetings with Danish and Greenlandic officials in Copenhagen, the message was resoundingly clear that Denmark and Greenland want to partner with the United States and advance our shared security goals, just as we have done for decades. There is no need, or desire, for a costly acquisition or hostile military takeover of Greenland when our Danish and Greenlandic allies are eager to work with us on Arctic security, critical minerals and other priorities under the framework of long-standing treaties. When we reconvene with our Senate colleagues, we will convey the perspectives shared by Danish and Greenlandic officials, as well as from the indigenous people who live the realities of Greenland every day."
Shaheen and Tillis warned that moving forward with tariff threats would harm both Americans and U.S. allies while benefiting rival powers. "Continuing down this path is bad for America, bad for American businesses and bad for America’s allies. This kind of rhetoric also further helps adversaries like Putin and Xi who want to see NATO divided. Our allies deserve better, and so do the American people who have made their opposition to this flawed policy resoundingly clear. At a time when many Americans are already concerned about the cost of living, these tariffs would raise prices for both families and businesses. We urge the administration to turn off the threats and turn on diplomacy.”
The statement comes amid heightened concern over transatlantic relations within NATO as economic measures such as tariffs can strain alliances at a time when unity is considered important for addressing global challenges.
