On Wednesday, President Donald Trump stated that he would not use force to acquire the territory, marking the first time he has excluded the use of military action for this purpose.
During his speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump lamented that the United States “probably won’t obtain anything unless I decide to employ excessive strength and force, in which case we would be, frankly, unstoppable.”
“But I won’t do that,” he added. “That’s perhaps the most significant statement I’ve made because people thought I would use force. I don’t need to use force. I don’t want to use force. I won’t use force.”
“All the United States is seeking is a place called Greenland,” he continued.
These remarks come amidst a protracted campaign by Trump to annex the island, which is a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark.
This campaign has become increasingly confrontational in recent weeks, as Trump has insisted that there is “no going back” on his push to acquire Greenland, which he has claimed is crucial for U.S. national security.
In recent weeks, Trump has posted images showing the island adorned with an American flag and cited the example of the U.S. military when discussing his plans for Greenland, raising concerns that he might use military action to seize the territory.
Trump’s aggressive stance has caused unease among European officials, and his appearance was preceded by a series of speeches condemning his ambitions to take the territory. On Tuesday, French President Emmanuel Macron denounced what he referred to as a “new imperialism” without directly naming Trump.
“We do prefer respect to bullies,” Macron said. “And we do prefer the rule of law to brutality.”
Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney, similarly, did not mention Trump’s name but announced that the “rules-based order is fading.”
“Canadians know that our old, comfortable assumption that our geography and alliance memberships automatically brought prosperity and security is no longer valid,” Carney said.
Trump’s pressure campaign regarding Greenland had intensified ahead of Davos, escalating from words to actions.
Over the weekend, he announced sanctions on NATO allies for participating in military exercises on the island.
This, in turn, prompted threats of retaliatory economic measures from those countries, which were already facing tariffs of 10% and 15%. European Union (E.U.) officials convened an emergency meeting to discuss a coordinated response. Some officials raised the possibility of abandoning the U.S.-E.U. trade deal reached last summer. The agreement includes $750 billion worth of energy purchases from the U.S., $600 billion in E.U. investment, and billions of dollars in reduced tariffs on imports from European countries.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned during her speech at the World Economic Forum that the E.U.’s response to the tariff threats will be “unwavering, united, and proportional.”
“In politics as in business—a deal is a deal. And when friends shake hands, it must mean something,” von der Leyen said.
This is a developing story.
