Davos: President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that he was scrapping his planned tariffs on eight European nations in an effort to force US control over Greenland, pulling a dramatic reversal shortly after insisting he wanted to get the island “including right, title and ownership.”
In a post on his social media site, Trump said he had agreed with the head of NATO on a “framework of a future deal” on Arctic security, potentially defusing tension that had far-reaching geopolitical implications.
He said “additional discussions” on Greenland were being held concerning the Golden Dome missile defence programme, a multilayered, USD 175 billion system that, for the first time, will put US weapons in space.
In a subsequent interview with CNBC, Trump offered few details but described the agreement reached as a “forever deal” and boasted, “Now we’re going to have even better security than we would have had before.”
Trump backed off tariffs before
The president has threatened tariffs before only to back away. In April, after first saying he would slap massive import levies on nations from around the world, which prompted a sharp negative market reaction, Trump eased off.
But his change of heart this time came only after he used his speech at the World Economic Forum in the Swiss Alps to focus on Greenland and threatened to upend NATO, an alliance that has been among the globe’s most unshakable since the early days of the Cold War.
In his address, Trump said he was asking for territory that was “cold and poorly located” and that the US had effectively saved Europe during World War II while declaring of NATO: “It’s a very small ask compared to what we have given them for many, many decades.”
“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, OK?” Trump said, later adding, “I don’t have to” and “I don’t want to use force.”
But Trump has also said repeatedly that, while the US will defend NATO, he wasn’t convinced the alliance will back Washington, if needed, and suggested that was at least part of the reason for his aggressive stance toward Greenland.
His sentiments prompted NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, in a post-speech event with Trump, to say that the alliance would stand with the US if it is attacked.
“You can be assured, absolutely,” Rutte said.
A short time later came Trump’s post cancelling the tariffs.
President cites US national security
Trump argues that the US needs Greenland for national security and to counter threats from Russia and China in the Arctic region, despite America already having a large military base there. He threatened to impose steep US import taxes on Denmark and seven other allies unless they negotiate a transfer of the semi-autonomous territory.
The tariffs were to have started at 10 per cent next month and climb to 25 per cent in June.
Trump often tries to increase pressure on the other side when he believes it can lead to a favourable agreement. His threats at Davos appeared on the verge of rupturing NATO, which was founded by leading European nations, the US and Canada to counter the Soviet Union.
The alliance’s other members were steadfast in saying Greenland is not for sale and cannot be wrested from Denmark, while angrily rejecting Trump’s promised tariffs.
A Danish government official told The Associated Press after Trump’s speech that Copenhagen was ready to discuss US security concerns. But the official, who was not authorised to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity, underscored the government’s position that “red lines”- namely Denmark’s sovereignty – must be respected.
It was not immediately clear how Trump’s canceling of tariffs might change such calculations.
Greenland tells citizens to prepare
In the meantime, Greenland’s government responded by telling its citizens to be prepared. It has published a handbook in English and Greenlandic on what to do in a crisis that urges residents to ensure they have sufficient food, water, fuel and supplies at home to survive for five days.
“We just went to the grocery store and bought the supplies,” Tony Jakobsen in Greenland’s capital Nuuk said, showing off the contents of bags that included candles, snacks and toilet paper.
Jakobsen said he thought Trump’s rhetoric towards Greenland was “just threats… but it’s better to be ready than not ready.”
Before backing down, Trump had urged Denmark and the rest of NATO to stand aside, adding an ominous warning.
“We want a piece of ice for world protection, and they won’t give it,” Trump said. “You can say yes, and we will be very appreciative. Or you can say no, and we will remember.”
He also called for opening “immediate negotiations” for the US to acquire Greenland. In subsequent comments to reporters, he declined to name a price that might be paid, saying only, “There’s a bigger price, and that’s the price of safety and security and national security and international security.”
After his address, Trump met with the leaders of Poland, Belgium and Egypt.
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