In an address to the World Economic Forum in Davos, President Donald Trump intensified his long-standing call for the United States to acquire Greenland, while stating that military force would not be used to pursue what he described as a strategic objective. Speaking before an audience of global business executives and political leaders, Trump said he was seeking immediate negotiations to revisit the possibility of Greenland’s acquisition by the United States, framing the proposal as a matter of defense and global security rather than territorial expansion. He argued that ownership, rather than leasing or licensing arrangements, was necessary to ensure the effective defense of what he characterized as a vast and insufficiently secured island. Referring to historical precedents, he cited the United States’ role during the Second World War as evidence of its willingness and capacity to bear high costs in defending Europe, including Denmark, which administers Greenland. Trump also maintained that transferring Greenland to US control would not pose a threat to NATO, while reiterating his view that the United States shoulders a disproportionate share of the alliance’s financial and security responsibilities, according to his remarks at the World Economic Forum.
Tension between the EU and US over Greenland
The Greenland remarks came amid heightened attention in Davos following Trump’s recent threat to impose punitive tariffs on eight European countries that he accused of obstructing US claims related to Greenland, a move that has dominated discussions at the Swiss gathering. During the same speech, Trump addressed energy and economic policy, rejecting a transition away from fossil fuels and criticizing the expansion of wind power across Europe and the United Kingdom, while asserting that his administration had delivered strong economic performance during the first year of his second term. He attributed market volatility earlier in the week to his tariff announcements, at one point appearing to conflate Greenland with Iceland. Trump also used the platform to respond to criticism from Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who had warned in his own Davos address that mid-sized countries should coordinate to counter what he described as coercive pressure from larger powers. Trump countered by asserting that Canada had benefited extensively from its relationship with the United States. His speech, which lasted over an hour and followed travel delays caused by an electrical fault on Air Force One, also touched on relations with Russia and China, which he described as positive. All remarks and reactions cited were drawn from speeches and statements delivered at the World Economic Forum in Davos this week.