U.S. President Donald Trump escalated his rhetoric on Greenland, insisting there is “no going back” after what he described as a “very good” call with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
In a Truth Social post, Trump said he plans to meet with allies at the World Economic Forum’s annual gathering in Davos this week and argued that control of Greenland is non-negotiable for security. “As I expressed to everyone, very plainly, Greenland is imperative for National and World Security,” he wrote, adding: “There can be no going back — On that, everyone agrees!”
At a press briefing on Tuesday, Trump refused to define the limits of his ambitions. When a reporter asked how far he would go to acquire the Arctic territory, Trump answered: “You’ll find out.”
Key Developments
- Trump slams U.K. move on Chagos Islands: Trump attacked the U.K. over steps to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean—including Diego Garcia, home to a U.S. military base—calling it an “act of GREAT STUPIDITY.” He argued the decision signals weakness and claimed it underscores why the U.S. must secure Greenland: “There is no doubt that China and Russia have noticed this act of total weakness.”
- Macron questions Greenland push: Trump also posted a screenshot of a message from French President Emmanuel Macron, who said they were “totally in line” on Syria and Iran, but added: “I do not understand what you are doing in Greenland.” Macron invited Trump to meet with the G7 and other leaders in Davos and suggested dinner in Paris before Trump returns to the U.S.
- Greenland officials weigh contingencies: Speaking at a press conference in Nuuk, Nielsen said Trump’s repeated threats have forced authorities and residents to consider contingency planning. “It’s not likely there will be a military conflict, but it can’t be ruled out,” he said.
- Denmark reinforces Greenland amid allied drills: Denmark has deployed additional troops to Greenland as European NATO allies conduct military exercises on the island—both as a show of unity against Trump’s pressure campaign and as a signal they take regional security concerns seriously.
- Political blowback grows: Right-wing populists in Europe who have previously championed Trump’s nationalist agenda are now criticizing his threat to impose tariffs on nations that resist his push for Greenland. In the U.S., new polling shows Republicans overwhelmingly oppose using military force to take control of Greenland.
- EU prepares tariff response: The European Union is weighing a 93 billion euro ($107 billion) package of retaliatory tariffs over Trump’s threatened Greenland-related tariffs. EU officials are also considering invoking the bloc’s Anti-Coercion Instrument—sometimes dubbed its trade “bazooka”—as a potential countermeasure.
