In a significant diplomatic shift, former President Donald Trump has withdrawn his threat to impose sweeping tariffs on European NATO members following what he described as a “very productive meeting” with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the World Economic Forum in Davos. The tariffs, which were initially slated to begin February 1st, were intended as leverage to force negotiations for the United States to acquire Greenland.
The abrupt reversal came after Trump’s high-profile speech at Davos, where he insisted Greenland was vital for U.S. national security but pledged not to use military force to obtain it. Instead, he announced a new framework for negotiations focused on securing American strategic interests in the Arctic territory, which is currently an autonomous Danish territory.
According to Trump’s statements on Truth Social and in subsequent media interviews, the proposed arrangement would grant the U.S. permanent control over specific land parcels in Greenland for military installations and resource extraction. Trump emphasized the deal would last “forever” and specifically address mineral rights and the planned ‘Golden Dome’ missile defense system—a comprehensive shield against long-range missiles.
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen expressed cautious optimism, stating the day had “ended on a better note than it began” and indicating willingness to discuss American security concerns while respecting Denmark’s sovereignty. NATO spokeswoman Allison Hart confirmed the alliance’s commitment to ensuring Russia and China gain no economic or military foothold in Greenland through forthcoming trilateral negotiations between the U.S., Denmark, and Greenland’s autonomous government.
The development follows Trump’s confrontational rhetoric at Davos, where he criticized French President Emmanuel Macron for what he called decades of France “screwing” the U.S. and admonished Canadian officials for their perceived ingratitude toward American protection. The resolution suggests a pragmatic compromise emerged behind the scenes, moving from Trump’s initial demand for outright purchase to a negotiated agreement on strategic access, though many details about the potential deal’s structure remain undisclosed.