KEY POINTS
- Trump demanded immediate talks with Denmark over acquiring Greenland.
- He stressed the US has “unstoppable force” but ruled out using it.
- Trump claimed Greenland is vital for US and NATO security.
- Warned Denmark to “say yes or the US will remember.”
- Criticised Europe for tariffs, economy, and “unfair” treatment of US.
- Mocked French President Macron over prescription drug negotiations.
- Announced plans to launch “Board of Peace” for global conflict resolution.
DAVOS, Switzerland: US President Donald Trump on Wednesday demanded “immediate talks” on acquiring Greenland in a speech at Davos, but said that while the United States possessed “unstoppable force” it would not use it to take the Arctic island from Denmark.
Trump’s quest to take control of Greenland, which he said was needed for national and international security, dominated his address to the World Economic Forum as he returned for the first time in six years.
“It’s the United States alone that can protect this giant mass of land, this giant piece of ice,” Trump told a packed audience of global political and business leaders in the Swiss ski resort.
“That’s the reason I’m seeking immediate negotiations to once again discuss the acquisition of Greenland by the United States.”
Denmark has “a choice,” he said. “You can say yes, and we will be very appreciative. Or you can say no and we will remember. A strong and secure America means a strong NATO.”
But Trump appeared to rule out the threat of military action against fellow NATO member Denmark — which he branded “ungrateful” — that has threatened to tear the transatlantic alliance apart.
“We probably won’t get anything unless I decide to use excessive strength and force where we would be, frankly, unstoppable, but I won’t do that,” Trump said, adding that it was probably the “biggest statement I made.”
“I don’t have to use force. I don’t want to use force. I won’t use force.”
Trump however lambasted Europe on a number of fronts from Greenland to tariffs and the economy, saying it was “not heading in the right direction”.
Canada warns of ‘Rupture’
Trump’s claims over Greenland have completely overshadowed the meeting in Davos, where he landed by helicopter, stepping onto a red carpet laid in the snow.
He arrived some two hours behind schedule, after an electrical issue earlier forced Air Force One to turn back to Washington and switch planes.
But in a sign of the dissent against Trump, the words “No Kings” were dug into the snow overlooking mountain-fringed Davos overnight, referring to a US protest slogan, according to AFP.
Europe and Canada had earlier closed ranks against what they view as a threat to the US-led global order from Trump’s territorial ambitions over semi-autonomous Greenland.
Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney warned at Davos on Tuesday of a “rupture” to the US-led system, in a speech which won a standing ovation.
NATO chief Mark Rutte told Davos on Wednesday that “thoughtful diplomacy” was needed, as Trump’s claims over Greenland provoke an existential crisis for the group.
“There are these tensions at the moment, there’s no doubt,” said Rutte, who has been dubbed the “Trump whisperer” for his ability to deal with the US president.
Rutte also pushed back against Trump after he said he doubted NATO would come to the aid of the United States if asked. “I tell him, yes they will,” Rutte said.
‘So unfairly’
Trump however repeated his doubts on NATO during his speech, saying Washington was treated “so unfairly.”
France called meanwhile Wednesday for a NATO exercise in Greenland “and is ready to contribute to it”, French President Emmanuel Macron’s office said.
During his address, Trump mocked Macron, taking aim at sunglasses his French counterpart wore a day earlier for health issues and accusing him of playing tough over pharmaceutical price negotiations.
“I watched him yesterday with those beautiful sunglasses — what the hell happened? But I watched him sort of be tough” over his hesitation to raise drug prices to be more in line with US rates, Trump said in an address to the economic forum.
“I said, ‘Emmanuel you’ve been taking advantage of the United States for 30 years with prescription drugs. You really should do it, and you will do it,'” Trump said.
Macron had warned at Davos on Tuesday against US attempts to “subordinate Europe”, and blasted Trump’s “unacceptable” threats to impose tariffs on allies over Greenland.
Europe has threatened countermeasures after Trump turned up the pressure by threatening levies of up to 25 percent on eight European countries for backing Denmark.
Greenland’s prime minister said Tuesday that his tiny population of 57,000 must be prepared for military force.
