Trump announces Davos talks on Greenland, raising tensions with Europe

U.S. President Donald Trump announced today a meeting of various parties regarding Greenland, an autonomous territory belonging to Denmark that he wants to annex, a move that has increased pressure on European leaders gathered at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

The annual gathering dedicated to multilateralism—something the U.S. president has consistently undermined—comes amid a standoff over Greenland between the United States and its European allies within NATO, CE Report quotes ATA.

“I don’t think they’ll put up much of a fight. We have to accept it,” the U.S. president told a journalist in Florida who asked him about Greenland, before announcing “a meeting of various parties in Davos.”

“Greenland is essential for national and global security. There can be no turning back on this—everyone agrees!” he declared on his Truth Social network, noting that he had had “a very good phone conversation” with Mark Rutte, NATO’s secretary general.

“The United States of America is clearly the most powerful country in the world… We are the only power capable of ensuring peace in the world, and this is done, quite simply, through strength!” he said.

The U.S. president also posted an AI-generated image showing him, accompanied by Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, planting an American flag in an Arctic landscape. A sign reads: “Greenland, U.S. territory since 2026.”

Trump cites security concerns related to Russia and China as justification for seizing Greenland, and he has threatened tariffs against countries that oppose him, including France, Germany, and the United Kingdom.

As the EU considers retaliatory trade measures, statements made by European leaders at Tuesday’s Davos summit will be closely monitored.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is scheduled to deliver one of the opening speeches, followed by Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng.

On Monday, she reiterated the “need to unequivocally respect” the sovereignty of Greenland and Denmark during a meeting in Davos with a bipartisan delegation from the U.S. Congress.

French President Emmanuel Macron, who recently denounced “new colonialism and new imperialism” in international relations, is among those supporting a strong EU response.

He is scheduled to speak in Davos early this afternoon.

— Vicious circle —

Donald Trump, whose last in-person appearance at the Davos forum was in 2020, is expected to address the assembly on Wednesday.

The American presence is very visible in Davos this year.

According to the organizers, the U.S. delegation is one of the largest ever registered at Davos this year.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent dismissed on Tuesday in Davos the idea that Europeans could impose financial retaliation and sell off their U.S. Treasury bonds.

At a press conference, he denounced “a completely misleading narrative,” noting that the U.S. debt market “is performing better than anywhere else in the world.”

“It is the most liquid market and the foundation of all financial transactions,” he said.

“Everyone should take a deep breath. Don’t listen to the hysterical media,” he added.

Macron had planned to leave Davos on Tuesday evening without meeting Donald Trump.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, on the other hand, said he wanted to meet the U.S. president there, stating that he wanted to “avoid an escalation of the trade war.”

“Tariff threats between allies are unacceptable; they weaken our transatlantic relationship and, in the worst-case scenario, could lead to a vicious circle,” also warned Finnish President Alexander Stubb.

When asked about the possibility of the Americans using force, he nevertheless stated that “I do not believe that the Americans will take military control of Greenland.”

Among other leaders expected in Davos on Tuesday is Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who is seeking to reduce his country’s dependence on the United States and recently concluded a new partnership with Beijing.

The summit, themed this year “A Spirit of Dialogue,” will run until Friday at a luxury ski resort.