Donald Trump is back at the big meeting in Davos and he is changing everything. The world’s top business leaders and politicians are feeling the heat. Everyone is worried about how his plans will affect trade and global safety. He is set to arrive on Wednesday to give a speech and meet with powerful bosses.
The big banks and tech leaders are all invited to a party for him after his talk. One CEO said the invite went out to leaders from all over the world. No one knows the full schedule yet. Even some of his former staff members are talking about it. They say this meeting is the only thing people are focused on right now.
The official plan for the week was supposed to be about new ideas and saving the planet. Instead everyone is talking about Trump’s latest moves. Over three thousand people from many countries are there. This includes dozens of world leaders. But the main topic in the hallways is Trump’s push to take control of Greenland.
Trump wants the United States to buy that giant Arctic island. He even threatened to put new taxes on goods from eight European countries if they do not agree. His team is telling Europe not to fight back. They say it would be a bad idea to doubt him. They want everyone to know he is very serious about this.
European leaders are not sure how to handle the pressure. Denmark says this is about more than just one island. They feel it puts their whole relationship with the US at risk. The European Union might hit back with its own trade taxes. They have a massive list of American products they could target very soon.
European officials say these shocks are a chance for them to be more independent. They believe they need to stand on their own two feet now. They still want to work with the US on safety in the Arctic. However they think the new trade threats are a huge mistake. They want to keep the deals they already made.
Russia and China are also at the meeting making things more complicated. A Russian envoy is looking to meet with the US team. At the same time China is trying to look like the stable partner while the US and Europe argue. Trump does not seem to care about the complaints from his allies. He says Greenland is vital for world security and he will not back down.
The stock markets are already getting nervous about a trade war. Prices for shares in Europe and the US dropped as investors got worried. Some business bosses think this is just how Trump negotiates. They say he starts with a heavy hand to get a better deal later. They think his goal of helping the US is the right one even if he is loud about it.
The head of the event says this is the most difficult time for the world in many decades. More CEOs are attending than ever before because they are scared of what comes next. The town is packed and the security is tight. People are hungry to know which way the world is going to turn.
Davos used to be a place where people just sat around and talked. Now it feels like a high stakes battleground for the global economy. All eyes are on the US because its choices will change things for everyone. The old alliances are being tested and the markets are waiting to see who blinks first.
