President Donald Trump on Wednesday called for urgent negotiations on acquiring Greenland during a forceful speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, while insisting that the United States would not resort to military action to take the Arctic territory from Denmark, despite possessing what he described as overwhelming power.
Trump’s renewed drive to bring Greenland under US control, which he argued was essential for both American and global security, dominated his address to the forum as he returned to Davos for the first time in six years.
Speaking before an audience of political and business leaders who waited more than an hour to hear him in the Swiss resort, Trump framed Greenland as strategically indispensable.
“It’s the United States alone that can protect this giant mass of land, this giant piece of ice,” Trump said. “That’s the reason I’m seeking immediate negotiations to once again discuss the acquisition of Greenland by the United States.”
He stressed that Denmark faced a clear decision on the issue. “You can say yes, and we will be very appreciative. Or you can say no and we will remember. A strong and secure America means a strong NATO,” he added, linking Greenland directly to the future strength of the alliance.
Despite his blunt language, Trump sought to downplay fears of military escalation against Denmark, a fellow NATO member he described as “ungrateful,” after his remarks threatened to deepen divisions across the Atlantic. He said force was unnecessary, even if the United States had the capacity to act.
“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,” Trump said, calling it perhaps the most significant statement of his speech. “I don’t have to use force. I don’t want to use force. I won’t use force.”
Beyond Greenland, Trump sharply criticised Europe on multiple fronts, from trade to economic policy, warning that the continent was “not heading in the right direction” as he escalated his broader challenge to the existing global order.
Trump’s claims over mineral-rich Greenland have eclipsed much of the Davos agenda. He arrived at the forum by helicopter, stepping onto a red carpet laid across the snow, though he was delayed by nearly two hours after an earlier electrical issue forced Air Force One to return to Washington so he could switch aircraft.
Signs of opposition to Trump’s stance were visible around the resort, with the words “No Kings” carved into the snow overlooking Davos overnight, echoing a protest slogan from the United States. European leaders and Canada had already united against what they see as a direct threat to the US-led international system stemming from Trump’s territorial ambitions over semi-autonomous Greenland.
Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney warned on Tuesday of a potential “rupture” in that system during a Davos speech that earned a standing ovation. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte also urged restraint on Wednesday, saying that “thoughtful diplomacy” was essential as Trump’s claims sparked what he described as an existential crisis for the alliance.
“There are these tensions at the moment, there’s no doubt,” said Rutte, often referred to as the “Trump whisperer” for his ability to manage relations with the US president. He also pushed back against Trump’s suggestion that NATO allies might not defend the United States if required, saying firmly, “I tell him, yes they will.”
Trump, however, repeated his doubts during his speech, arguing that Washington was treated “so unfairly” within NATO. France added to the diplomatic pressure by calling for a NATO military exercise in Greenland and signalling its readiness to participate, according to President Emmanuel Macron’s office.
Macron had already warned at Davos against US attempts to “subordinate Europe” and criticised Trump’s “unacceptable” threats to impose tariffs on allies over Greenland. European leaders have since warned of countermeasures after Trump threatened levies of up to 25 percent on eight European countries for supporting Denmark.
Greenland’s prime minister said Tuesday that the island’s population of just 57,000 must be prepared for the possibility of military force. Meanwhile, Trump is expected on Thursday to formally unveil the first charter of his proposed “Board of Peace,” a body aimed at resolving international conflicts, with a reported $1 billion cost for permanent membership.
What you should know
Trump’s Davos speech underscores how Greenland has become a flashpoint in US–Europe relations, symbolising deeper tensions over security, trade and global leadership.
While he insists he will not use force, his language has heightened fears of a fractured NATO and a reshaped international order, with Europe and Canada increasingly wary of Washington’s direction.
