US President Donald Trump has appeared to ease his tough rhetoric over Greenland, stepping away from earlier threats of trade penalties against Europe and dismissing the possibility of using military force to take control of the Danish territory.
Speaking on Wednesday, Trump said he would suspend plans to impose tariffs after reaching what he described as a “framework” agreement with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte concerning Greenland and the wider Arctic region.
Posting on Truth Social after meeting Rutte on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Trump said the proposed framework, if finalised, would benefit both the United States and NATO allies.
Trump also noted that talks touched on his proposed “Golden Dome” missile defence system, alongside issues relating to Greenland, though he did not disclose specific details of the agreement.
Addressing reporters briefly in Davos, the US president said the discussions covered security concerns, mineral resources and other strategic matters.
Rutte, in a separate interview with Fox News, offered limited clarity on the framework and avoided directly answering whether the United States would seek ownership of Greenland. He said the focus of their discussion was on advancing Trump’s vision for safeguarding the Arctic region as a whole, including Greenland.
When asked whether Denmark would retain sovereignty over Greenland under the proposed arrangement, Rutte said the matter was not discussed.
Trump’s remarks come after weeks of statements suggesting the US could take control of Greenland, a semi-autonomous Danish territory. His comments had raised concerns about the future of NATO unity and threatened more than $1.7 trillion in transatlantic trade.
Previously, Trump had warned of imposing a 10 percent tariff on Denmark and seven other European countries from February 1, with plans to increase it to 25 percent by June 1, unless Denmark agreed to sell Greenland.
He has repeatedly accused Denmark of failing to adequately secure Greenland’s Arctic waters, arguing that the island is strategically critical to US national security amid growing Chinese and Russian influence in the region.
Denmark has consistently maintained that Greenland is not for sale, warning that any attempt to seize the territory by force would effectively collapse NATO, the 32-member alliance that includes both countries.
