ISTANBUL

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said Sunday that Washington's tariff threat against several European nations is a "mistake" and noted that there could be a problem of understanding.

"The prediction of a tariff increase against those nations that have chosen to contribute to Greenland's security is a mistake, and I don't agree with it," Meloni told reporters during her visit to South Korea, according to the ANSA news agency.

She reiterated the need to “resume dialogue and avoid an escalation," reaffirming that she spoke to US President Donald Trump and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, who confirmed that the alliance is beginning to work on the issue.

Meloni stressed that she shared the attention Washington places on Greenland and the Arctic, which is a "strategic area where excessive interference by potentially hostile actors must clearly be avoided."

"The willingness of some European countries to send troops and contribute to greater security should be understood not as an initiative directed at the United States, but rather at other actors," she further underscored. “It seems to me there was a problem of understanding and communication on this.”

Several European countries are boosting their military presence in Greenland through exercises and reconnaissance missions, as US President Donald Trump has insisted the territory should be "in the hands of the US" to counter Russia and China.

In a fresh move, Trump said Saturday that Washington will impose 10% tariffs on goods from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands and Finland from Feb. 1, rising to 25% in June, for their opposition to US control of Greenland.

Following the announcement, European leaders, including the presidents of the European Council and the EU Commission, vowed a coordinated response.

Greenland, a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, has long attracted US interest due to its strategic location and vast mineral resources, as well as alleged concerns about rising Russian and Chinese activity.