During subsequent interviews with CNBC and CNN, the president repeated that the concept involves “security, strong security, and other things,” but avoided clarifying whether sovereignty over the 836,000-square-mile island forms part of the negotiations. When asked directly, he called the matter “complex” and said he was “not ready to say yet.” On CNN he characterized the outline as “the ultimate long-term deal” that is “infinite” in duration.
Military option ruled out
Earlier in the day, Trump addressed delegates in Davos and ruled out using force to obtain control of Greenland, stating, “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.” Despite rejecting military action, he argued that only the United States can defend the strategically located island and repeated his call for “immediate negotiations” to secure “right, title and ownership.”
The president contended that leasing the territory would not provide the legal or psychological basis for effective defense, adding that significant Arctic conflict could occur “on that piece of ice.”
Tariff threat and European reaction
Trump’s tariff proposal, announced last week, targeted eight unnamed European nations and was linked directly to U.S. efforts to acquire Greenland. European Union officials responded on Wednesday by suspending a trans-Atlantic trade agreement reached last summer, pending clarification of American intentions. With the president’s latest statement, the planned duties are on hold, though the suspension could be revisited if negotiations falter.
Domestic backdrop
Polling released on 16 January indicated that U.S. voters overwhelmingly oppose seizing Greenland by military force, including majorities within the president’s own party. Nevertheless, Trump has continued to frame the island’s location, mineral resources and airspace as critical to American and allied security. Greenland, home to roughly 57,000 people, has been self-governing in most domestic matters since 2009 while remaining part of the Kingdom of Denmark and, by extension, a territory within the NATO alliance.
Imagem: Internet
What remains unclear
Neither the White House nor NATO released documentation describing the framework. Questions outstanding include:
- Whether the agreement contemplates a full transfer of sovereignty, a long-term lease or another form of cooperative arrangement.
- The role of Denmark and Greenland’s local government in any final settlement.
- Specific changes, if any, to defense obligations under the NATO treaty.
- Timing and scope of mineral exploration or infrastructure development.
Secretary-General Rutte has not commented publicly since the Davos meeting. Danish officials also remained silent on Wednesday, and Greenland’s government has yet to issue a statement.
Next steps
Trump said negotiators will “work together on something having to do with the Arctic as a whole,” signaling that discussions will extend beyond Greenland’s borders to issues such as northern sea routes, environmental stewardship and shared defense installations. The president offered no timetable but expressed confidence that the arrangement would place “everybody in a really good position.”
For now, businesses in Europe and the United States will avoid the immediate impact of additional tariffs, and trade officials on both sides of the Atlantic are expected to monitor developments closely. Whether the provisional accord leads to a formal treaty, and how it addresses sovereignty, remains uncertain.
Crédito da imagem: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
