U.S. President Donald Trump has reiterated his threat to take control of Greenland, declaring on social media that there is “no going back” and that the territory is “imperative” to U.S. interests.
Speaking at a White House news conference, Trump was asked how far he was willing to go to acquire Greenland. He responded tersely: “You’ll find out.” He later said during the lengthy briefing that “things are going to work out pretty well” in Greenland.
Trump is expected to arrive in Davos, Switzerland, on Wednesday for the World Economic Forum, where he said there are “a lot of meetings scheduled on Greenland.”
His comments have triggered sharp reactions from global leaders. French President Emmanuel Macron warned at the forum of a “shift towards a world without rules,” while Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said the “old order is not coming back.”
Asked by the BBC whether a potential fracture of the NATO alliance was a price he was willing to pay to secure Greenland, Trump insisted he had done more for NATO than any other leader. “NATO is going to be happy and we are going to be happy. We need it for world security,” he said. However, he also questioned whether NATO would come to the United States’ aid if needed.
“I know we’ll come to NATO’s rescue, but I really do question whether or not they’ll come to ours,” Trump told reporters.
NATO, which currently has 32 member states including the U.S. as one of its founding members, is built on collective defence. Under Article 5 of the alliance, an armed attack on one member is considered an attack on all.
Trump has not ruled out the use of military force to acquire Greenland. When asked by NBC News whether he would use force, he responded with “no comment.”
In Greenland, officials have expressed alarm at Trump’s remarks. Speaking to BBC Newsnight, Greenland’s Minister of Industry and Natural Resources, Naaja Nathanielsen, said citizens were “bewildered” by the U.S. president’s demands.
“We do not want to be Americans, and we have been quite clear about that,” she said, questioning what value was being placed on Greenland’s culture and right to self-determination.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen addressed the issue during a speech at the Davos forum, stressing that Europe is “fully committed” to Arctic security but only through cooperation. She criticised Trump’s proposed tariffs as a “mistake” and said the EU stands in “full solidarity” with Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark, adding that their sovereignty is “non-negotiable.”
Trump has warned he will impose a 10% tariff on all goods imported from eight European countries starting February 1 if they oppose his proposed takeover of Greenland.
Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney echoed von der Leyen’s remarks, reaffirming Canada’s “unwavering” commitment to NATO’s Article 5 and expressing full support for Greenland and Denmark’s right to determine their future.
Macron also condemned what he described as a preference for intimidation over diplomacy, saying he favoured “respect over bullies” and “the rule of law over brutality.”
Earlier on Tuesday, Trump threatened to impose a 200% tariff on French wine and champagne after Macron reportedly declined an invitation to join a proposed Gaza “Board of Peace.” Macron criticised the “endless accumulation of new tariffs” as unacceptable, particularly when used to challenge territorial sovereignty.
The French president is among those urging the European Union to consider retaliatory measures, including the use of its anti-coercion instrument. Sources close to the European Parliament say lawmakers are considering suspending approval of a U.S. EU trade deal agreed in July, a move that would further escalate tensions between Washington and Europe.
