Washington, Jan 16 (AP) President Donald Trump says he may punish countries with tariffs if they don't back the US controlling Greenland. Trump didn't provide details Friday.

Trump says the United States needs Greenland for national security. Trump for months has insisted that the US should control Greenland, a self-governing territory that is part of the kingdom of Denmark. But the Republican president had not previously mentioned using tariffs to try to force the issue.

European leaders have joined Denmark in saying the US can't control the world's largest island. (AP) GSP

US tariff threats over Greenland could be used to coerce international support for territorial control. The executive indicated the possible use of tariffs as punitive measures against countries that do not support U.S. efforts to assume control of Greenland, framing such trade measures as justified by national security concerns and signalling the use of trade policy as leverage in a territorial dispute.