Select Language:
European leaders clearly addressed Greenland on Tuesday, pledging an unwavering response to U.S. threats, even as President Donald Trump indicated he was open to a meeting in Davos to discuss his plans regarding the autonomous Danish territory.
Ahead of his departure for the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Trump responded cryptically when asked about the extent of his actions, saying, “You’ll find out.” He also expressed optimism about his upcoming talks, stating, “We have a lot of meetings scheduled on Greenland, and I think things will turn out pretty well.”
At the forum, leaders united in their stance against Trump’s increasingly assertive “America First” approach. Greenland’s Prime Minister warned that with a population of just 57,000, military force might have to be considered. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, cautioned that Trump’s actions risked causing US-EU relations to spiral downward. French President Emmanuel Macron criticized efforts to subjugate Europe and called Trump’s threats to impose tariffs up to 25% on countries opposing his Greenland initiative “unacceptable.”
Previously, Trump insisted that Greenland was vital for security reasons, posting on Truth Social, “There can be no going back — everyone agrees on that.” His demand to gain control of Greenland has challenged the transatlantic alliance, prompting Europe to contemplate retaliation plans amid warnings from Washington that retaliatory tariffs would be unwise.
U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick advised European nations to keep tensions low, while trade envoy Jamieson Greer emphasized that using trade “bazookas” would be unwise. Von der Leyen condemned proposed US tariffs as a “mistake,” warning they could trigger a destabilizing spiral that benefits America’s adversaries. She vowed that Europe’s response would be “unflinching, united, and proportionate.”
Trump continued his Greenland campaign on Truth Social, describing a “very good” phone call with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, during which they agreed to meet with various parties in Davos. However, former NATO leader Anders Fogh Rasmussen warned that Trump’s actions could lead to the gravest crisis in NATO’s history, stating that the era of flattery toward the US is over.
Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen acknowledged that military action was “unlikely,” but not impossible, emphasizing that Greenland’s membership in NATO means any escalation could have global consequences. Trump claims his interest in Greenland stems from security concerns related to Russian and Chinese threats, even though the US already maintains a base there.
An emergency NATO summit on Greenland is scheduled for Thursday in Brussels.
Other international leaders at the WEF expressed their views, including Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, who criticized global privileges based on self-interest, condemning a “law of the jungle.” Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney emphasized the need for Canada to bolster its international standing, noting the shift from reliance on U.S. dominance to defending a stable global order.
Key global issues on the agenda include crises in Venezuela, Gaza, Iran, and Ukraine. Despite Europe ramping up defense spending and seeking U.S. support to end the Ukraine conflict and deter Russia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that the Greenland controversy might distract attention during wartime. French President Macron proposed a G7 summit in Paris to discuss Greenland and Ukraine, but later clarified that no such meeting was scheduled, and Trump indicated he would not participate.
Meanwhile, Russia’s envoy Kirill Dmitriev plans to meet with U.S. representatives in Davos, marking the first such encounter since Russia was barred following its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
ChatGPT
Perplexity
Gemini AI
Grok AI
