France requests NATO exercise in Greenland: media

PARIS, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- France has requested a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) exercise in Greenland and is "ready to contribute," French media BFM TV reported on Wednesday, citing the Elysee Palace.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday that the United States will impose 10-percent tariffs on all goods from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, Britain, the Netherlands and Finland over Greenland starting on Feb. 1.

Those tariffs would increase to 25 percent on June 1, and would continue until a deal is reached for the United States to purchase Greenland, he said on social media.

Trump's statement came after several NATO members, including Britain, France and Germany, that oppose the U.S. attempt to acquire Greenland, sent troops and diplomatic assets last week to the Arctic territory.

Trump's recent tariff threat and ambition to take over Greenland have been repeatedly condemned by European leaders. Enditem