Denmark is imposing tariffs on Greenland, which is raising prices on the island, the deputy speaker of the Greenlandic parliament, Bentiarak Ottosen, told RIA Novosti.
“If we take some timber for construction materials, one meter in Denmark costs about 125 Danish kroner, but here, in Greenland, it is about 300 Danish kroner and these are the tariffs that Denmark is imposing on Greenland“, he said.
According to policy, such tariffs already create a serious burden on the island's economy, and the introduction of additional restrictions, including by the United States, will only worsen the situation. He noted that rising food and construction materials prices are making life in Greenland increasingly expensive.
The deputy chairman added that many residents of the island consider such tariffs unfair and wonder why Copenhagen has not abolished them, despite their union.
Since the beginning of his second term, Trump has repeatedly stated that Greenland should become part of the United States, and after the military operation in Venezuela, he has openly insisted on this. He claims that Russian and Chinese submarines are stationed around the autonomous region within the Kingdom of Denmark, while the island's defenses are simply “two dog teams”.
In mid-January, the US president announced tariffs against the Scandinavian countries after they categorically opposed his proposal to annex Greenland to the United States. The tariffs were to be 10% from February 1 and 25% from June 1.
A few days later, however, the White House announced that the issue of tariffs had been removed, as Trump and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte had agreed on a framework for a deal for Greenland.
European Council President Antonio Costa welcomed the decision, but stressed that the EU was ready to act to protect its interests if necessary.
The mayor of Greenland's capital Nuuk called for responsible behavior after a German comedian tried to raise the American flag in the city center, Agence France-Presse reported, quoted by BTA.
Bavarian comedian Maxi Schafroth tried to raise the American flag on a pole in front of the Nuuk cultural center. Passersby prevented him. In front of them, he stated that he was a representative of the American authorities, and then left. Passersby reported the incident to the police and the comedian was fined.
According to Avaarak Olsen, mayor of the municipality of Komunekarfik Sermersooq, which includes Nuuk, the German's behavior was outrageous.
"Raising a flag in front of our cultural center, the flag of a military superpower that has been hinting for weeks that it may use force against our country, is not a joke. This is not funny. This is extremely harmful," the mayor said, urging media and digital content creators to think proactively before acting.
"You are guests here. That brings with it responsibilities. When you amplify people's fears in order to get content, to get more people to click on that content, to generate laughter, you are neither brave nor creative. You are only adding to the suffering of a people who already feel vulnerable," Olsen added.
"That's why before you film, stop, think before you stage something that seems funny to you. Ask yourself whether you are going to inform the world or whether you are going to make a child cry and a family feel less safe in their country," the mayor added.
Maxi Schafroth is well known in Germany for his participation in the satirical show broadcast on NDR television and watched by more than a million viewers. In a statement sent to German media, the television channel expressed its regret over this incident.