In a significant diplomatic development, former President Donald Trump revealed through social media on Wednesday that he has established a preliminary agreement framework with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte concerning Greenland and broader Arctic regional interests. The announcement followed Trump’s address at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland where he emphasized Greenland’s strategic importance while explicitly dismissing military intervention as an option.
The proposed arrangement, described by Trump as “the ultimate long-term deal,” would reportedly address multiple strategic concerns including regional security and mineral resource access. As an immediate consequence of this diplomatic progress, Trump declared the suspension of previously threatened tariffs against several European nations including Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom.
These tariffs, initially proposed at 10% and potentially escalating to 25% by June, were intended as leverage against countries opposing U.S. ambitions regarding Greenland. The negotiation process will now be handled by a team including Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff.
While Trump enthusiastically promoted the arrangement as beneficial for all NATO members, he notably declined to confirm whether the framework includes U.S. sovereignty over Greenland. The proposal reportedly includes considerations for a missile defense system referred to as “The Golden Dome,” though specific details remain undisclosed pending further negotiations.
The development follows Trump’s forum speech where he characterized Greenland as “a core national security interest” while employing ambiguous language regarding consequences for nations opposing U.S. objectives. This Arctic diplomacy occurs alongside domestic policy discussions, including Trump’s recent executive order targeting institutional investors in the housing market and proposed credit card interest rate limitations.