U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced he was scrapping a proposed tariff on European allies linked to Washington’s push for greater control over Greenland, saying NATO leaders had agreed on a framework for future cooperation on Arctic security.
The announcement was a very drastic change of Mr. Trump’s earlier statements, where he reaffirmed his intention to get Greenland “with right, title and ownership” but still insisted on not using military force. At the World Economic Forum in Davos, the President said that his discussions with the NATO leaders had not only reduced tensions but also opened up the possibility for negotiations regarding security in the region.
In a long and very frank speech, Trump maintained that the U.S. demands were very small in comparison to America’s historic role, especially during the World War II and Cold War, in defending Europe. He called Greenland of utmost importance to world security and cited the steadily increasing threats in the Arctic from Russia and China, even though the U.S. has already built a large military base on the island, as the reason for the citing.
“We probably won’t get anything unless I decide to use excessive strength and force — but I won’t do that,” Mr. Trump said, later adding that military action was neither necessary nor desirable. He nevertheless cautioned European partners against creating hurdles in the way of the U.S.’s aspirations, stating that the U.S. would “keep track of” the ones who did not cooperate.
The comments created a stir in diplomatic circles and raised the question of how long NATO — an alliance that has been considered one of the most stable in the world for a long time — would be able to survive. Denmark’s and Europe’s leaders have made it clear time and again that Greenland, an autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark, is not for sale.
An official from the Danish government told The Associated Press that Denmark would continue talking to the U.S. about security matters but made it clear that the issue of Greenland is a matter of absolute sovereignty for Denmark. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen expressed his gratitude to Mr. Trump for his assurance that there would be no military intervention but at the same time, he indicated that the President’s rhetoric was contrary to the international legal rights framework concerning the territory.
Meanwhile, Greenland’s administration warned its citizens to remain vigilant in the event of any political tensions. The administration has distributed a book on civic preparedness, which includes the recommendation that households should store enough food and water for a minimum of five days. People in Nuuk were discreetly preparing, although the majority were stating their conviction that the occurrence would not take place.
After his talk, President Trump emphasized that military intervention was “not an option” and that he preferred conversations over conflicts. In his arguments, he presented a picture of a flourishing U.S. economy as opposed to a struggling Europe and contended that America’s strength is of ultimate benefit to its allies.
There were protests at some points on the way to the venue, yet Mr. Trump was able to give his keynote speech to a full house of world leaders and businessmen, and the audience’s reaction was mostly tepid applause. Then, he had one-on-one discussions with the heads of state of Poland, Belgium, and Egypt, again emphasizing that the U.S. would never occupy Greenland.
The analysts argue that although the denial of the immediate tariff threat is not an impediment anymore, Mr. Trump’s remarks are an indication that the issue of Greenland and the security of the Arctic as a whole will still be a matter of contention between the U.S. and Europe in the near future.
