Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has strongly criticized former U.S. President Donald Trump's recent threat to impose tariffs on several European nations over their stance on Greenland, calling the move a 'mistake'. Speaking from Seoul on Sunday, January 18, 2026, Meloni confirmed she had directly conveyed her views to Trump. Trump announced on Saturday, January 17, 2026, that he would levy 10% import tariffs, increasing to 25% by June 1, 2026, on goods from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Finland. These tariffs are a direct response to these European allies deploying small numbers of military personnel to Greenland for Arctic security exercises, which Trump misinterpreted as opposition to his long-standing desire to purchase the autonomous Danish territory for U.S. national security. Meloni, considered an ally of Trump in Europe, sought to temper the conflict, suggesting a 'problem of understanding and communication' between Europe and the United States. She emphasized that European deployments were for collective security against 'other actors' and not anti-American. Concurrently, Italy has been actively developing its own Arctic strategy, unveiling a new document that prioritizes business, security, and research in the High North. Meloni has consistently urged NATO to adopt a coordinated strategy for the Arctic, highlighting its escalating strategic importance amid increasing Russian and Chinese influence. European leaders have largely united in condemning Trump's tariff threats, warning of a 'dangerous downward spiral' in transatlantic relations.