President Donald Trump addressed the World Economic Forum in Davos, centering his speech on his controversial demand to acquire Greenland. Describing the island as “imperative for national and world security,” Trump claimed that the semi-autonomous territory is geographically “part of North America” and asserted, “That’s our territory.” While he softened his earlier rhetoric by stating he would not use “excessive strength and force” to seize the island, he maintained that the U.S. “has to have it” to counter Russian and Chinese influence in the Arctic.
President Donald Trump addressed the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where he doubled-down on his demand for control of Greenland but said he would not use force to acquire the self-governing Danish island.
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The dispute has triggered a massive transatlantic rift. Trump has threatened 10% tariffs, rising to 25% by June, against eight European allies, including the UK, Denmark, and Germany, unless they support the “complete and total purchase” of the island. European leaders, including British PM Keir Starmer and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, have condemned the move as “predatory,” warning it could fracture the NATO alliance. Adding to the tension, a leaked text message from Trump to the Norwegian Prime Minister revealed he no longer felt “obligated to think purely of peace” after being snubbed for the Nobel Peace Prize.
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Greenland is prized for its vast untapped reserves of rare earth elements, zinc, and gold, as well as its strategic location for Arctic shipping routes opening due to melting ice. While Denmark has increased its military presence in Nuuk to assert sovereignty, Trump dismissed their ability to protect the island, calling the Danish government “ungrateful.” As the trade war looms, stock markets in London and Frankfurt have already seen sharp declines amid fears of a global “downward spiral” in relations.
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