AVOS, Switzerland/COPENHAGEN– U.S. President Donald Trump said there is “no going back” on his plan to control Greenland, refusing to rule out using force while pressing European allies on the matter. He shared AI images showing himself in Greenland with a U.S. flag and leaked messages, including one from French President Emmanuel Macron questioning, “what [he is] doing on Greenland.”
Trump told reporters, “As I expressed to everyone, very plainly, Greenland is imperative for National and World Security. There can be no going back on that, everyone agrees!” He has previously threatened tariffs on countries that oppose his plans, including a 200% duty on French wines and champagnes.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen responded firmly, saying, “I am certainly not going to abandon Greenland, I made that decision a long time ago as Danish prime minister.” She added, “The American president has unfortunately not ruled out the use of military force. And therefore the rest of us cannot rule it out either, so it is a natural consequence of what the American president has said and has not said.”
At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda suggested sharing Arctic and North Atlantic security responsibility could ease tensions. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Canada opposed any U.S. tariffs tied to Greenland.
European leaders called for unity against coercion. Macron told the forum, “We do believe that we need more growth, we need more stability in this world, but we do prefer respect to bullies.” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described a “seismic change” requiring new forms of European independence. The EU could respond with tariffs on 93 billion euros of U.S. imports or use the “Anti-Coercion Instrument” to limit access to public tenders, investments, or trade in services.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Davos attendees, “It’s been 48 hours. As I said, sit back, relax. I am confident that the leaders will not escalate and that this will work out in a manner that ends up in a very good place for all.”
Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov questioned Denmark’s sovereignty over Greenland, saying, “It was neither a natural part of Norway nor a natural part of Denmark. It is a colonial conquest. The fact that the inhabitants are now accustomed to it and feel comfortable is another matter.”
Trump’s stance has triggered market jitters. Wall Street opened sharply lower, global stocks fell, gold prices hit record highs, and U.S. Treasuries saw sell-offs.
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