The Greenland Gambit: Unilateral Tariffs and the Case for Multilateral Governance
The early weeks of 2026 have witnessed a dramatic escalation in transatlantic tensions, as President Donald Trump announced sweeping tariffs on several European nations—most notably Denmark and Finland—over the ongoing Greenland dispute. Citing the need for “The Golden Dome” missile defense system and expressing concerns over Arctic security, the administration has weaponized trade policy to pressure sovereign nations into a territorial sale. While the administration frames these measures as a tool for national security and economic reciprocity, this unilateral approach highlights a growing crisis in global governance. To ensure a balanced and stable global economy, the authority to regulate international trade and impose tariffs should reside not with individual superpowers, but within a empowered multilateral framework, ideally overseen by the United Nations and its associated bodies.