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U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that he was cancelling his planned tariffs on U.S. allies in Europe over U.S. control of Greenland after he and the leader of NATO agreed to a “framework of a future deal” on Arctic security.
The abrupt about-face emerged hours after Trump had insisted he wants to “get Greenland, including right, title and ownership” but said he would not use force to do so — all while deriding European allies and vowing that NATO should not try to block U.S. expansionism.
“We probably won’t get anything unless I decide to use excessive strength and force, where we would be frankly unstoppable. But I won’t do that, OK?” Trump said earlier in the day, later adding, “I don’t have to” and “I don’t want to use force.”
NATO was founded by leading European nations, the U.S. and Canada as a bloc meant to counter the Soviet Union. Its other members have been steadfast in saying Greenland is not for sale and cannot be wrested from Denmark, meaning Trump’s comments could yet mark the beginning of a larger geopolitical standoff.
The president has long said the U.S. will get control of Greenland no matter what it takes, arguing that Washington needs the world’s largest island to counter threats in the surrounding Arctic Ocean from Russia and China. That’s despite the U.S. already having a large military base there.
‘Better to be ready than not,’ Greenlander says
A Danish government official told The Associated Press after Trump’s speech that Copenhagen was ready to discuss U.S. security concerns. But the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to comment publicly, underscored the government’s position that “red lines” — namely Denmark’s sovereignty — must be respected.
Greenland’s government responded by telling its citizens to be prepared. It has published handbooks in English and Greenlandic on what to do in a crisis, urging residents to ensure they have sufficient food, water, fuel and supplies at home to survive for five days.
“We just went to the grocery store and bought the supplies,” said Tony Jakobsen in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, showing off the contents of bags that included candles, snacks and toilet paper.
Jakobsen said he believes Trump’s Greenland rhetoric is “just threats … but it’s better to be ready than not ready.”
Trump, meanwhile, urged Denmark and the rest of NATO to stand aside, adding an ominous warning.
Trump speaks at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Jan. 21. (Gian Ehrenzeller/Keystone/The Associated Press)
“We want a piece of ice for world protection, and they won’t give it,” Trump said. “You can say yes, and we will be very appreciative. Or you can say no, and we will remember.”
He also called for opening “immediate negotiations” for the U.S. to acquire Greenland.
In subsequent comments to reporters, he declined to name a price that might be paid, saying only, “There’s a bigger price, and that’s the price of safety and security and national security and international security.”
Trump suggests Europe is fizzling while U.S. booms
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said he was encouraged by Trump’s comment about not using U.S. military force, but called other parts of the speech “a way of thinking about territorial integrity that does not match the institutions we have.”
“Greenland is part of NATO. Denmark is part of NATO, and we can exercise our sovereignty in Greenland,” Løkke Rasmussen said.
In his remarks, Trump also argued that the U.S. is booming and its economy is strong, in sharp contrast to Europe.
“I want to see Europe go good, but it’s not heading in the right direction,” said Trump. “We want strong allies, not seriously weakened ones.”
He said of European economies, “You all follow us down, and you follow us up.”