![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/\/0e2fda89-b0d7-4201-84aa-5383d47be1f1.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSteve Witkoff will meet President Putin on Thursday. <\/p>\n
President Trump\u2019s special envoy told CNBC: \u201cWell, look, we have to go meet him on Thursday. But it\u2019s the Russians who are asking for that meeting. I think that\u2019s a significant statement on their part.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Kremlin said last week that it was preparing to welcome Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump\u2019s son-in-law, to Moscow for peace talks on Ukraine, but that no dates had been set.<\/p>\n
President Trump is due to give his address as planned at 1.30pm (GMT) despite delays to his flight overnight.<\/p>\n
Trump\u2019s arrival to the Swiss mountain town is running around three hours later than planned after technical difficulties with Air Force 1 that forced the president to take off and re-land late on Tuesday night. <\/p>\n
His first in-person speech since 2019 will be given to delegates in the Forum\u2019s Congress hall. <\/p>\n
Norway joins growing list rejecting Board of Peace<\/p>\n
Norway will not join President Trump\u2019s \u201cBoard of Peace\u201d.<\/p>\n
Kristoffer Thoner, the Norwegian state secretary, said the \u201cAmerican [peace board] proposal raises a number of questions\u201d, which required \u201cfurther dialogue with the United States\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cNorway will therefore not join the proposed arrangements for the Board of Peace, and will therefore not attend a signing ceremony in Davos,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
The announcement comes days after Trump has vented his frustration at Oslo after being snubbed for this year\u2019s Nobel peace prize. <\/p>\n
The US administration has asked countries to pay up to $1 billion for a permanent spot on the board, on which Trump will serve as chairman.<\/p>\n
Steve Witkoff, US special envoy, claimed twenty to 25 world leaders had already accepted their invitations.<\/p>\n
Melania documentary gets Davos platform<\/p>\n
The posters for the documentary hang either side of Trump\u2019s presidential portrait<\/p>\n
THERESA M\u00dcNCH\/AVALON<\/p>\n
Film posters for the upcoming Melania Trump documentary have been displayed in the seating area in the US House, the headquarters of the country\u2019s delegation, in Davos.<\/p>\n
The documentary claims to offer \u201cunprecedented access\u201d and a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the life of the first lady. <\/p>\n
The film, directed by Brett Ratner, will be released in cinemas on January 30. It will be his first since numerous women accused him of sexual misconduct in 2017.<\/p>\n
Melania, 55, is an executive producer on the documentary and said it showed the world \u201cwhat it takes\u201d to serve as the US\u2019s first lady.<\/p>\n
\u2018Chagos Islands will not scupper US negotiations\u2019<\/p>\n
Rachel Reeves has denied the Chagos Islands will scupper negotiations with the US.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday, Scott Bessent, the US Treasury secretary, said the White House was \u201clet down\u201d by the UK\u2019s Chagos Islands deal and there were some \u201cglitches\u201d in furthering UK-US negotiations.<\/p>\n
Reeves, who will not meet Bessent on the sidelines of the forum in Davos, said the agreement over Diego Garcia, which is a US base in the region, was done with the agreement of Marco Rubio, US secretary of state, and President Trump.<\/p>\n
France calls for military exercises in Greenland<\/p>\n
France has called for a full-scale military exercise in Greenland and is ready to \u201ccontribute significant land, air, and maritime assets\u201d.<\/p>\n
In the latest escalation by President Macron over Trump\u2019s Greenland threats, the \u00c9lys\u00e9e Palace said France wanted a Nato exercise to reinforce the reason it supported a Danish military presence, codenamed Arctic Endurance, in Greenland. <\/p>\n
\u201cThis is to show that we take security in the Arctic region seriously and it is inseparable from European security,\u201d a Macron aide said. <\/p>\n
The move comes after Macron\u2019s warnings to Trump in Davos yesterday that Europe would stand up to \u201cbullying\u201d over Greenland.<\/p>\n
Reeves: Our US deal still stands![\"Rachel](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/\/ed3dbfe2-fab4-47b8-ad52-0a9fb2866ff0.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Rachel Reeves speaking during the World Economic Forum in Davos yesterday<\/p>\n
FABRICE COFFRINI\/AFP\/GETTY IMAGES<\/p>\n
Rachel Reeves said she has received assurances that the US-UK tariff deal still stands.<\/p>\n
The chancellor, who is in Davos, said she had spoken to Howard Lutnick, the US commerce secretary, who has made it \u201cclear in private and public\u201d that the UK-US tariff deal agreed last year for a 10 per cent baseline levy had not changed. The US administration had threatened to impose an extra 10 per cent tariff rising to 25 per cent over the UK\u2019s support for Denmark over Greenland.<\/p>\n
Rachel Reeves also said the UK would refuse to be \u201cbuffeted around\u201d by Washington\u2019s threats of tariffs. She told Sky News: \u201cWe\u2019ve got an economic plan, and it is the right one for our country. If other countries want to increase trade barriers, that is their choice, but we are determined to bring trade barriers down.\u201d<\/p>\n
She celebrated the UK getting \u201cthe first and the best deal\u201d from the Trump administration. <\/p>\n
Italy expected to turn down Board of Peace<\/p>\n
Italy is expected to turn down President Trump\u2019s invitation to join his Board of Peace, citing the constraints of the Italian constitution.<\/p>\n
The Italian constitution allows participation in international organisations only \u201cin conditions of parity with other states\u201d. Ratification of an international agreement would also require the preliminary approval of parliament.<\/p>\n
The constitutional impediment protects Giorgia Meloni, the prime minister, from an awkward choice between her political friendship with Trump and loyalty to European allies. She has already publicly declared that Trump\u2019s threat of tariffs against nato allies over Greenland was a mistake.<\/p>\n
Italian media said Meloni might opt to attend a first meeting of the Trump board, but only as an observer.<\/p>\n
\u2018We must not lose sight of Ukraine\u2019<\/p>\n
Mark Rutte said Nato allies should not allow tensions over Greenland to distract them from the need to defend Ukraine.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe focus on Ukraine should be the number one priority, it is crucial for European and US security,\u201d Nato\u2019s secretary-general said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am really worried that we lose sight and that in the meantime Ukrainians won\u2019t have enough interceptors to defend themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nato secretary silent on Trump![\"Mark](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/\/33045511-7665-46fd-b563-9d61c49fbf05.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Mark Rutte, the Nato secretary-general, President Nawrocki of Poland and President Stubb of Finland<\/p>\n
GIAN EHRENZELLER\/KEYSTONE\/AP<\/p>\n
Nato\u2019s secretary-general has said he would not publicly comment on the tensions between the United States and its European allies over President Trump\u2019s demand to take over Greenland. <\/p>\n
Mark Rutte said at a panel discussion at the World Economic Forum: \u201cYou can be assured that I\u2019m working on this issue behind the scenes, but I cannot do it in public.<\/p>\n
\u201cPresident Trump and other leaders are right. We have to do more there. We have to protect the Arctic against Russian and Chinese influence,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are working on that, making sure that collectively we\u2019ll defend the Arctic region.\u201d<\/p>\n
Trump\u2019s voice is very important, says Poland![\"Karol](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/\/2516b479-3c40-434c-9672-f466623ce30a.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Karol Nawrocki speaks during the World Economic Forum on Wednesday<\/p>\n
FABRICE COFFRINI\/AFP\/GETTY IMAGES<\/p>\n
Karol Nawrocki, the president of Poland, has said he is looking at Greenland from the US perspective and Trump\u2019s voice is \u201cvery important\u201d.<\/p>\n
Sitting on a panel at the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, he said: \u201cI am looking at the problem of Greenland from their [the US\u2019s] strategic side.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said he \u201cappreciated\u201d Danish opposition to US overtures, but said he was looking at the disagreement in terms of broader geopolitical concerns.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnited States of America, for all [the] eastern flank of Nato, are very important ally,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m looking at Greenland as strategic point and a geopolitical issue between free world, democratic world\u2026 [and] Russia,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
US Greenland grab branded an \u2018overreach\u2019<\/p>\n
The chair of the Bundestag\u2019s foreign affairs committee has said President Trump risked \u201coverreaching\u201d himself on Greenland because the US Congress would likely push back against his plans to seize the island.<\/p>\n
Armin Laschet said: \u201cThis could be a process in which he overreaches himself because for many of the things that would now be necessary he also needs the support of the Senate and the parliament in the United States.\u201d<\/p>\n
For many Republicans, a military annexation of Greenland was out of the question, Laschet added. \u201cSo he will also face a lot of problems in his own country.\u201d<\/p>\n
The proposed EU-US trade deal is in jeopardy, amid warnings that members of the European parliament could halt its progress.<\/p>\n
Brussels struck the accord with President Trump in July, where it accepted the 15 per cent US tariffs without levying their own.<\/p>\n
But a majority of MEPs have been preparing to stall the ratification, including Germany\u2019s Manfred Weber who on Saturday wrote on X that \u201cthe 0 per cent tariffs on US products must be put on hold.\u201d<\/p>\n
Please enable cookies and other technologies to view this content. You can update your cookies preferences any time using privacy manager.<\/a><\/p>\n Enable cookiesAllow cookies once<\/p>\n On Tuesday, Iratxe Garc\u00eda P\u00e9rez, president of the S&D group, a major political group within the European parliament, said there was broad agreement among political factions to suspend the accord.<\/p>\n MEPs were scheduled to meet to discuss the agreement\u2019s implementation this afternoon. <\/p>\n EU ready to respond \u2018very quickly\u2019 to Trump<\/p>\n The European Union is ready to \u201cvery quickly\u201d impose retaliatory tariffs on the US over Greenland, the EU\u2019s economy commissioner has warned.<\/p>\n Valdis Dombrovskis, Brussels commissioner for the economy and a former prime minister of Latvia, said the bloc had prepared a tariff list worth \u20ac93 billion if the White House imposed a 10 per cent levy on six European Union countries, in addition to the UK and Norway.<\/p>\n \u201cWe can respond very quickly, because actually, we had been preparing them already last year in a context of previous tariffs introduced by President Trump. In a sense, we put off these retaliatory tariffs after reaching certain agreements with US. But technically it\u2019s ready, so we are actually ready to deploy it very quickly.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2018We must not be daunted by Trump,\u2019 says Costa<\/p>\n Europeans must not be \u201cdaunted\u201d by President Trump and his threats, Ant\u00f3nio Costa has said ahead of an emergency summit of EU leaders tomorrow.<\/p>\n The president of the European Council, convened the crisis meeting after Trump threatened six EU countries with sanctions over Greenland.<\/p>\n \u201cTaken together, the geopolitical challenges Europe is facing sometimes seem daunting,\u201d he told the European parliament.<\/p>\n \u201cBut the European Union will come out of this stronger, more resilient and more sovereign.\u201d<\/p>\n He added: \u201cWe stand ready to defend ourselves, our member states, our citizens, our companies, against any form of coercion. And the European Union has the power and the tools to do so.\u201d<\/p>\n Sweden rejects Trump\u2019s Board of Peace<\/p>\n Sweden has become the latest European country to reject President Trump\u2019s \u201cBoard of Peace\u201d initiative, its prime minister has said.<\/p>\n Speaking to journalists in Davos, Ulf Kristersson confirmed that Sweden would not participate in the board. It joins France, which claimed Trump\u2019s initiative could undermine the United Nations.<\/p>\n China, meanwhile, said it would defend the international system with the United Nations \u201cat its core\u201d, a day after announcing it had been invited to join the board.<\/p>\n Beijing has yet to confirm whether it will accept the invitation, but Guo Jiakun, the foreign ministry spokesman, said China would support a UN-based international world order regardless of \u201cchanges\u201d.<\/p>\n Putin has also received an invitation to join the Gaza board.<\/p>\n EU should push for independence, says von der Leyen<\/p>\n The EU should accelerate its push for independence to defend itself in an \u201cincreasingly lawless world\u201d, Ursula von der Leyen has said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are at a crossroads. Europe prefers dialogue and solutions but we are fully prepared to act, if necessary, with unity, urgency and determination,\u201d EU Commission president told the European parliament.<\/p>\n \u201cIn this increasingly lawless world, Europe needs its own levers of power,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n \u201cWe know them: a strong economy, a thriving single market and industrial base, a strong innovation and technology capacity, united societies and above a real capacity to defend ourselves.\u201d<\/p>\n EU \u2018stands ready\u2019 to defend itself Antonio Costa with Ursula von der Leyen in Strasbourg, France, on Wednesday<\/p>\n YVES HERMAN\/REUTERS<\/p>\n The European Union has the power to defend itself, the EU Council president has said.<\/p>\n Antonio Costa told the European parliament: \u201cWe stand ready to defend ourselves, our member states, our citizens, our companies, against any form of coercion. And the European Union has the power and the tools to do so.<\/p>\n \u201cWe cannot accept that the law of the strongest prevails over the rights of the weakest,\u201d he added. \u201cBecause international rules are not optional. And alliances cannot just boil down to a sequence of transactions.\u201d<\/p>\n Trump\u2019s tariffs would trim EU growth<\/p>\n President Trump\u2019s proposed 10 per cent tariffs on European allies who oppose a US acquisition of Greenland would trim EU growth by 0.5 per cent, an Austrian National Bank study has found.<\/p>\n Martin Kocher, the governor of the central bank, said: \u201cUsing trade policy threats as a means of political pressure increases the risks for the global economy,\u201d and would accelerate inflation in the US.<\/p>\n New world order redefined by \u2018raw power\u2019 Ursula von der Leyen addresses the EU parliament in Strasbourg, France, on Wednesday<\/p>\n YVES HERMAN\/REUTERS<\/p>\n Ursula von der Leyen has warned that the 27-nation bloc must move faster to boost its economy and defences in the face of a new world order defined by \u201craw power\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cWe will need a departure from Europe\u2019s traditional caution,\u201d the European Commission president told the bloc\u2019s parliament on Wednesday.<\/p>\n \u201cWe now live in a world defined by raw power \u2014 whether economic or military, technological or geopolitical,\u201d she added. \u201cAnd while many of us may not like it, we must deal with the world as it is now.\u201d<\/p>\n Gold rose above $4,800 an ounce for the first time on Wednesday as investors moved into safe-haven assets amid heightened tensions between the US and Europe over Greenland.<\/p>\n The price climbed more than 2 per cent to $4,887.82 an ounce at one stage before easing back slightly. Bullion is usually buoyed by a combination of rising debt, a weakening dollar and geopolitical uncertainty.<\/p>\n The dollar was weaker against a basket of currencies, with the pound up 0.04 per cent to $1.3446. The FTSE 100 was trading flat after a global sell-off yesterday ahead of President Trump\u2019s appearance at the World Economic Forum in Davos.<\/p>\n Denmark is irrelevant, says US Treasury secretary Scott Bessent at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Wednesday<\/p>\n MARKUS SCHREIBER\/AP<\/p>\n Scott Bessent has dismissed Denmark as \u201cirrelevant\u201d and reiterated that Greenland \u201cneeds to be a part of the United States\u201d.<\/p>\n Bessent said he was not concerned that more institutional investors might pull out of the US Treasury market after a Danish pension fund announced yesterday that it would sell off its holding, worth some $100 million, by the end of the month.<\/p>\n \u201cThe size of Denmark\u2019s investment in US Treasury bonds, like Denmark itself, is irrelevant,\u201d he said. \u201cIt is less than $100 million. They\u2019ve been selling Treasuries for years. I\u2019m not concerned at all.\u201d<\/p>\n He added that America bought the US Virgin Islands from Denmark during the First World War. \u201cI will remind everyone that Denmark remained neutral during World War One,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n \u2018Conservatives would never sign Chagos deal\u2019<\/p>\n A shadow cabinet minister has said the Conservatives would support breaking the Chagos Islands treaty signed with Mauritius last year.<\/p>\n Alex Burghart, the shadow chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, told Times Radio<\/a>: \u201cI would [break the treaty]. We would. We would restart talks and we would say that this is no longer acceptable to us.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are ways in which you can disavow treaties you made. You have to follow a formal process, but it\u2019s possible to do. Technically, this treaty can\u2019t come into force until parliament has agreed it and parliament is yet to agree it.\u201d<\/p>\n He said it was \u201cprobably the worst real estate deal in the history of the world\u201d, claiming the Conservatives \u201cwould never have signed\u201d it.<\/p>\n US tariffs hurting American consumers<\/p>\n One of the world\u2019s largest hedge fund bosses has said US tariffs are hurting American consumers and businesses, rather than foreign exporters.<\/p>\n Ken Griffin, the chief executive at Citadel and a Republican donor, told the World Economic Forum that US import taxes were \u201cregressive on the American consumer\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cWith all taxes, the question is who pays the tax? It appears \u2026 that the incidence is falling on the American consumer and businesses not on foreign producers,\u201d Griffin said.<\/p>\n Research from the Kiel Institute has calculated that 94 per cent of the tariffs are being paid for by US households and importers.<\/p>\n \u2018Britain must avoid a trade war\u2019<\/p>\n Britain must avoid a trade war with the US, Ed Miliband has said.<\/p>\n The energy secretary said Britain would \u201cseek to bridge the divides\u201d with the US, as President Trump headed to Davos.<\/p>\n Miliband told BBC Radio 4 that it was \u201cnot about sweet talking\u201d Trump, but he said: \u201cWe seek to find common ground. We seek to bridge the divides, and it is no one\u2019s interest to have a trade war, and that\u2019s what we\u2019ve got to avoid.\u201d<\/p>\n He said: \u201cIf what you\u2019re asking me is, should we kind of ratchet up for the temperature? Should we threaten tariffs ourselves? I don\u2019t think that\u2019s the calm and rational way forward.\u201d<\/p>\n Starmer \u2018criticised\u2019 for Davos absence <\/p>\n Ed Miliband said Sir Keir Starmer would \u201cengage with President Trump in his own way\u201d amid criticism that the prime minister is not travelling to Davos with other world leaders.<\/p>\n In response to the prime minister\u2019s absence at the World Economic Forum, the energy secretary told BBC Breakfast: \u201cThe prime minister spends a lot of his time being criticised for being out of the country, and now you\u2019re saying to me, he should be out of the country more.\u201d<\/p>\n He added: \u201cWe need to work on Arctic security, which is what we\u2019re doing with our allies, talking to the US about that, and find a way forward which isn\u2019t about tariffs or trade wars, but is about working together for the security of the Arctic and indeed, to find common ground with the US.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2018Britain will challenge Trump when necessary\u2019 Ed Miliband on Sky News on Wednesday morning<\/p>\n Ed Miliband has said Britain will challenge President Trump when necessary.<\/p>\n The energy secretary told Sky News: \u201cNow this is a very challenging situation, and we\u2019ve got a principle, which is we seek common ground with Donald Trump, but where we disagree, we say so, and that\u2019s what he said on Greenland.<\/p>\n \u201cBut no, I think Keir Starmer\u2019s leadership is absolutely right on this and I think at this stage, it\u2019s about de-escalation and finding a way through this tricky situation.\u201d<\/p>\n Trump\u2019s arrival in Davos delayed Members of the media deboard Air Force One after returning to Joint Base Andrews<\/p>\n JONATHAN ERNST\/REUTERS<\/p>\n President Trump will arrive at Davos about three hours late after an electrical issue on Air Force One forced him to switch planes, Scott Bessent has said.<\/p>\n \u201cI believe President Trump is going to be about three hours late. I haven\u2019t seen the updated schedule,\u201d The Treasury secretary told reporters.<\/p>\n The US president is headed to deliver a speech to the World Economic Forum in the Swiss ski resort. He was scheduled to speak at 1.30pm (GMT).<\/p>\n Starmer praised for \u2018calm leadership\u2019 despite Trump<\/p>\n Sir Keir Starmer had shown \u201ccalm leadership\u201d in his handling of President Trump<\/a>, Ed Miliband has said, as he called for \u201cde-escalation\u201d over Greenland.<\/p>\n The energy secretary told Sky News the prime minister was not travelling to the World Economic Forum in Davos as there were \u201call kinds of other things that he\u2019s doing\u201d.<\/p>\n He said: \u201cThe bigger picture here is that the prime minister is, I think, navigating a really difficult international situation with great skill and in our national interest.<\/p>\n \u201cI know some people will want to say, why hasn\u2019t the prime minister been matching Donald Trump tweet-for-tweet, all of that. I honestly say to you, we would be in a much worse position as a country.\u201d<\/p>\n Starmer and Macron told to sort their countries out<\/p>\n President Trump has told the leaders of Britain and France to \u201cstraighten out their countries\u201d. <\/p>\n He took aim at President Macron and Sir Keir Starmer at a White House press conference yesterday ahead of his trip to Davos, Switzerland.<\/p>\n \u201c[Starmer and Macron] have got to straighten out their countries,\u201d President Trump said. \u201cLondon is having a lot of problems and if you look at Paris [it has] a lot of problems.\u201d<\/p>\n He added: \u201c[They] treat me well. They get a little bit rough when \u2026 I\u2019m not around, but when I\u2019m around, they treat me very nicely.<\/p>\n \u201cThey have two main problems: immigration and energy\u2026 the UK has an unbelievable asset called the North Sea. Norway uses it and makes a fortune.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2018Glitches\u2019 in US-UK trade negotiations Scott Bessent speaks at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Wednesday<\/p>\n MARKUS SCHREIBER\/AP<\/p>\n Scott Bessent said there have been \u201cglitches\u201d in further negotiations on a trade deal with the UK after the US hit out at the government\u2019s digital taxes, Greenland, and the Chagos Island deal.<\/p>\n The US Treasury secretary said there were no more UK-US trade talks planned after a 10 per cent baseline tariff was agreed last year on most goods.<\/p>\n \u201cThe UK got a very low rate [on tariffs]. We are continuing to negotiate but there have been glitches. I\u2019m sure the Starmer government will push forward,\u201d Bessent said.<\/p>\n Britain accused of letting down the US over Chagos<\/p>\n America\u2019s most senior economic official has said the UK \u201clet down\u201d the White House over the Chagos Island deal with Mauritius.<\/p>\n Scott Bessent, the Treasury secretary, told reporters in Davos: \u201cThe UK is letting us down on the base on Diego Garica, which we\u2019ve had for many many years. They want to hand it over to Mauritius.\u201d<\/p>\n President Trump is due to address the World Economic Forum after repeating his threats to annex Greenland, stoking tensions with EU leaders. <\/p>\n \u201cPresident Trump is serious here,\u201d Bessent said, as he warned European leaders against having \u201creflexive anger and bitterness\u201d at the threat of fresh tariffs on eight EU countries.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy don\u2019t they wait to hear what [Trump] has to say. They may be convinced.\u201d<\/p>\n UK defence secretary to meet Danish counterpart John Healey, arrives for the weekly government cabinet meeting at Downing Street on Tuesday<\/p>\n LEON NEAL\/GETTY IMAGES<\/p>\n John Healey, the defence secretary, is travelling to Denmark to discuss Arctic security, as President Trump refuses to back down on his plans to acquire Greenland.<\/p>\n Healey will meet with his Danish counterpart, Troels Lund Poulsen, with talks also expected to cover counter-drone technology and Ukraine.<\/p>\n The Danish prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, has previously said \u201cEurope won\u2019t be blackmailed\u201d by Trump\u2019s tariff threats over Greenland.<\/p>\n Greenland is a semi-autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark \u2014 itself a member of the EU and of Nato.<\/p>\n \u2022 \u2018Greenland not for sale\u2019: protests in Denmark against Trump takeover<\/a><\/p>\n \u2018De-escalation is the preferred path\u2019<\/p>\n Europe will not be divided by anyone, Poland\u2019s finance minister said on Wednesday, but he added that it would be preferable to reduce tensions with the US over tariffs.<\/p>\n \u201cDe-escalation is, of course, what would be the preferable path,\u201d Andrzej Domanski told CNBC in Davos. There\u2019s no need for further escalating of this situation, but at the same time, the European response must be firm and, once again, we will not get divided by anyone.\u201d<\/p>\n Netanyahu agrees to join Trump\u2019s Board of Peace<\/p>\n Binyamin Netanyahu<\/a>, the Israeli prime minister, has accepted the US president\u2019s invitation to join the \u201cBoard of Peace\u201d.<\/p>\n Board members already include Sir Tony Blair, Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, Steve Witkoff, Trump\u2019s special envoy, and Jared Kushner, Trump\u2019s son-in-law.<\/p>\n A mandate for a Board of Peace was authorised by the UN security council in November, but only to focus on Gaza until 2027. However, the board\u2019s draft charter makes no mention of the conflict in Gaza, and Trump has said that he envisions his nascent project\u2019s reach to be far broader in scope.<\/p>\n Since 2024, the International Criminal Court has a warrant issued for Netanyahu alleging responsibility for the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts during the war in Gaza.<\/p>\n Countries must pay $1 billion to become \u201cpermanent members\u201d, according to reports. More than 60 countries are so far believed to have been invited to join, with President Putin among those considering an offer.<\/p>\n Greenland row \u2018has disrupted support for Ukraine\u2019<\/p>\n President Trump\u2019s attempts to seize Greenland have disrupted plans for an economic support package for postwar Ukraine, according to reports.<\/p>\n A planned announcement of an $800 billion (\u00a3595 billion) \u201cprosperity plan\u201d has been delayed, the Financial Times reported<\/a>. The package was agreed upon between Ukraine, Europe, and the US at the World Economic Forum in Davos this week.<\/p>\n Trump\u2019s proposed \u201cBoard of Peace\u201d initiative, which has extended an invitation to President Putin<\/a> of Russia, was also cited as a cause for the delay.<\/p>\n \u2022 The strongman\u2019s UN? Trump\u2019s vision for his Board of Peace<\/a><\/p>\n Trump scheduled to speak at 1:30pm GMT<\/p>\n The US president was scheduled to speak at the World Economic Forum at 1.30pm GMT (2.30pm local time) today. It is unclear whether the disruption to his journey will see the address rescheduled.<\/p>\n Delegates have already heard from world leaders, who have addressed Trump\u2019s Greenland threats.<\/p>\n Mark Carney, the prime minister of Canada, said: \u201cWe stand firmly with Greenland and Denmark and fully support their unique right to determine Greenland\u2019s future.\u201d<\/p>\n Meanwhile, the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. called for \u201cEuropean independence\u201d and an \u201cunflinching, united and proportional\u201d response to Trump\u2019s tariff threats.<\/p>\n Ursula von der Leyen addresses delegates in Davos<\/p>\n LAURENT GILLIERON\/EPA<\/p>\n President Macron of France warned against a slide to \u201ca world without rules\u201d.<\/p>\n Macron calls for a Nato exercise in Greenland<\/p>\n France has called on Nato to conduct a military exercise in Greenland, President Macron\u2019s office said on Wednesday. Paris is ready to contribute to the operation, according to Reuters.<\/p>\n Last week European allies deployed a small military contingent to Greenland as part of a so-called reconnaissance mission. A single British officer was among the hastily assembled deployment<\/a>, which included unarmed or lightly armed personnel from Germany, France, Norway and Sweden.<\/p>\n A diplomatic source told The Times that the operation intended to \u201ckeep him [Trump] happy\u201d following the president\u2019s vocal concerns around security in the Arctic Circle.<\/p>\n Trump boards backup aircraft<\/p>\n President Trump has now boarded a new aircraft to continue his trip to the World Economic Forum in Davos<\/a>, about two-and-a-half hours after his initial departure.<\/p>\n This is not the first time Trump has been forced to use a backup aircraft.<\/p>\n The president and the first lady, Melania Trump, were forced to board a support helicopter after the one they were traveling in experienced a hydraulic issue, during September\u2019s UK visit.<\/p>\n The helicopter was forced to land at a local airfield, the White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, announced at the time.<\/p>\n Trump\u2019s second term: a visual guide Record tariffs, ICE arrests and 228 executive orders have meant a turbulent year for the US president. Here\u2019s how he has reshaped America \u2014 according to the numbers.<\/p>\n \u2022 Read in full: Trump\u2019s second term: a visual guide to a year like no other<\/a><\/p>\n Air Force One forced to turn back<\/p>\n Trump\u2019s journey to Davos was disrupted shortly after take-off on Tuesday night when Air Force One made an unscheduled landing. <\/p>\n The aircraft had to turn around and land near Washington because of a \u201cminor electrical issue\u201d.<\/p>\n The White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the U-turn was made out of an abundance of caution. A reporter on board said the lights in the press cabin briefly went out after take-off.<\/p>\n Read in full: Air Force One turns back after Trump\u2019s take-off for Switzerland<\/a><\/p>\n Members of the media deboard Air Force One after returning to Joint Base Andrews<\/p>\n JONATHAN ERNST\/REUTERS<\/p>\n Trump on Greenland: It\u2019s too cold for a golf course<\/p>\n The president sat down for an interview with NewsNation on the anniversary of his 2025 inauguration. He discussed the protests in Iran<\/a>, domestic unrest in Minnesota and his efforts to acquire Greenland.<\/p>\n Asked about why he wants to own the semi-autonomous Danish territroy, he said: \u201cIt\u2019s located in such a place that is literally so important for national security, when you come to Russia, when you come to China. A lot of Chinese boats, Russian military ships.<\/p>\n \u201cAlso for the international security for the world.\u201d<\/p>\n He then joked that Greenland, covered with \u201clots of ice\u201d, would not be used for real estate development and would be too cold for a golf course.<\/p>\n \u2018Don\u2019t retaliate\u2019, warns US<\/p>\n Scott Bessent, the US Treasury secretary, had a word of warning for European leaders on the eve of his boss\u2019s arrival in Davos: don\u2019t retaliate.<\/p>\n After the president shocked allies at the weekend by threatening them with tariffs for opposing his plan to take over Greenland, Bessent said now was the time for calm.<\/p>\n \u201cI would say this is the same kind of hysteria that we heard on April 2 [when Trump launched his reciprocal tariffs last year]. There was a panic,\u201d he said at the Swiss ski resort hosting the World Economic Forum. <\/p>\n \u201cWhat I am urging everyone here to do is sit back, take a deep breath, and let things play out. The worst thing countries can do is escalate against the United States.\u201d<\/p>\n Read in full \u2014 Katy Balls: World leaders brace for avalanche as Trump heads to Davos<\/a><\/p>\n Scott Bessent, US Secretary of the Treasury, during the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum<\/p>\n MARKUS SCHREIBER\/AP<\/p>\n Tension with Britain and France<\/p>\n Before leaving Washington for Davos on Tuesday, President Trump hit back against both Britain and France after they stood up for Greenland\u2019s right to self-determination. <\/p>\n Trump released private text messages from world leaders<\/a> including Macron and dismissed his invitation to meet in a G7 format in Paris this week, saying that the French president, whose term ends next year, \u201cis not going to be there very long\u201d.<\/p>\n He also doubled down on his criticism after accusing Britain of an \u201cact of GREAT STUPIDITY\u201d over its deal to transfer the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.<\/p>\n He suggested that this showed the folly of allowing Europeans to decide the future of territories that are strategically important to the US \u2014 relating it to his desire to acquire Greenland.<\/p>\n Trump tells Nato: We\u2019ll work something out<\/p>\n![\"Antonio](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/\/b9598a4e-8162-4701-bb66-ba314b5f21be.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Ursula](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/\/5fd0094f-f971-4f17-8321-f830143f258b.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Scott](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/\/5334f718-aa3a-4ae2-973b-95da6bd66287.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Ed](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/\/bb95b02b-ee6b-4079-9913-94f8440f2e5e.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Members](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/\/70481ec9-b0c6-47b0-8a63-85fb1643e46d.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Scott](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/\/c5612176-70f1-4976-8e2e-74b2428d6e60.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"John](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/\/e6ef63b8-a2f2-46d0-b2ab-f8d9a69052b9.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Ursula](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/\/b5ff0780-e512-4f10-9326-48dacc7e46f9.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/\/\/09b2aaff-254a-42f2-8f5d-579f772a3f98.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n![\"APTOPIX](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/\/c54f0559-34d0-4996-928b-89b690330e85.jpg\")
<\/p>\n