Trump lays out Greenland-Arctic deal framework, pauses February tariffs after Davos speech
In his speech to the World Economic Forum in Davos, the US president vowed not to invade Greenland while slamming Nato and Europe
Following what he called a “very productive” meeting with Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte, US President Donald Trump announced that the United States has established the framework for a future agreement concerning Greenland and the broader Arctic region.
“This solution, if finalised, will be a great one for the United States of America and all Nato nations,” Trump said on Wednesday, adding that, based on this understanding, he will not impose the tariffs originally scheduled for February 1.
Last week, Trump had threatened to target eight European countries, including Norway, Denmark and Sweden, that opposed his efforts to acquire Greenland or had deployed military contingents to the island.
The plan was structured as a “stepped” approach, designed to increase pressure over time if no agreement was reached: a 10 per cent tariff on all goods from the targeted countries was to take effect on February 1, rising to 25 per cent starting June 1.
On Wednesday, Trump noted that further discussions are under way regarding the Golden Dome, the administration’s proposed multilayered missile defence system, specifically in relation to Greenland’s strategic geography, according to a social media post.
US Vice-President J.D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and other officials will lead negotiations as necessary.
The announcement comes just hours after Trump’s speech at the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in the Swiss town of Davos, where he said he would not deploy US military might to acquire Greenland as tensions mounted over his repeated threats to acquire the world’s largest island, by force if necessary.