Trump rejected a military intervention over Greenland, but he demanded urgent negotiations and maintained that only the United States can guarantee its strategic defense
In that context, Trump recalled that his administration is considering imposing tariffs on Denmark and on other European allies if they do not agree to negotiate Greenland's future. As he detailed, the levies would start at 10% and could rise to 25% in the coming months.
The warning deepened tensions with some European partners, who publicly rejected U.S. pressure and defended Danish sovereignty over the territory.
The president of the United States, Donald Trump, stated that he doesn't intend to use military force to take control of Greenland, although he made it clear that his country demands immediate negotiations with Denmark because it considers that the territory is a key interest for U.S. national security.
"I do not want to use force to acquire Greenland", Trump stated during his speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos. However, he emphasized that the United States has an unprecedented military capability and that, if it chose that path, it would be "unstoppable," although he reiterated that it is not his intention.
Trump defended Greenland's geopolitical importance by describing it as a vast, sparsely populated territory that is strategically located between the United States, Russia, and China. He pointed out that its value has increased in the current global context, both because of its position and because of the growing relevance of critical resources.
"The reason is not the metals or the resources, it is strategic national security and international security", the president maintained, while he insisted that control of the territory is key to global stability.
The U.S. president questioned Denmark's level of defense investment within NATO and stated that only the United States is truly in a position to protect Greenland from external threats.
Trump called for immediate negotiations and warned that Washington will take note of the European response. "They can say yes and we will be grateful, or they can say no, and we will remember it," he stated, while he maintained that a strong United States guarantees a strong NATO.
During his presentation, Trump once again highlighted the role of the United States in World War II and stated that his country assumed significant costs to guarantee Greenland's security when Denmark fell quickly to German occupation.
"The United States won World War II. Without us, they would be speaking German or Japanese", the president stated, as he questioned what he considers a lack of recognition of the historic U.S. effort in Europe's defense.
In addition to Greenland, Trump used his speech to reaffirm his international agenda. He stated that Venezuela will experience a rapid economic recovery after Nicolás Maduro's departure, he strongly criticized green energy policies in Europe, and he stated that inflation in the United States has already been defeated.
In a forum marked by the presence of more than 60 heads of state, Trump once again made his approach clear: strong leadership, direct diplomatic pressure, and absolute priority for the United States' strategic interests.
