U.S. President Donald Trump has stepped back from threats to use tariffs or force to take control of Greenland, easing tensions between the United States and Europe but leaving major questions unresolved.
Trump had warned he could impose trade tariffs on European countries and even use force to push Denmark to give up Greenland, an Arctic territory rich in minerals and of strategic military importance. The move alarmed European allies and risked a major split within NATO, the Western military alliance.
After meeting NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Davos, Switzerland, Trump said a possible agreement could protect U.S. security interests in the Arctic while preventing Russia and China from gaining influence there. However, no clear deal has been announced.
Denmark has firmly rejected any suggestion of giving up Greenland, calling sovereignty a “red line.” Greenland’s residents welcomed the easing of tensions but remain cautious.
European stock markets rose after Trump’s change of tone, but leaders in Germany and elsewhere warned it was too early to assume the dispute is resolved.
The Greenland standoff comes at a sensitive time, with NATO focused on the war in Ukraine and global trade already under strain.
