Donald Trump has escalated his demand to annex Greenland, telling world leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos that the United States needs ownership of the territory for national security. However, he ruled out using military force, saying, 'I don’t want to use force. I won’t use force.'
Speaking to business and political elites, Trump claimed it was 'stupid' for the US to have ceded Greenland to Denmark after the Second World War, and insisted only America could defend 'this enormous, unsecured island'. He said the US was 'seeking immediate negotiations to once again discuss the acquisition of Greenland'.
The address, which also attacked European leaders, prompted a cool response from Denmark’s foreign minister, Lars Løkke Rasmussen. He said it was 'positive' that Trump had ruled out invasion but added: 'That does not make the problem go away.'
Later, Trump announced a U-turn on planned tariffs against eight European countries, saying talks with Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte had produced a 'framework of a future deal' on Greenland. The tariffs, set for 1 February, were suspended. Trump said the agreement included a US missile defence shield partly based in Greenland.
Rasmussen noted that any deal must respect the Greenlandic people. Trump’s remarks come amid heightened tension over the autonomous Danish territory, which lies strategically between the US, Russia and China.
