Trump says he has ‘framework’ for Greenland deal as he drops threat of EU tariffs

President Donald Trump said he no longer plans to impose tariffs on European countries that have opposed his ambitions for the United States to acquire Greenland.

In a social media post, Trump said his decision followed a “very productive meeting” with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

“This solution, if adopted, will be a tremendous solution for the United States of America and for all NATO nations,” he wrote. Rutte did not confirm the result.

Earlier on Wednesday, Mr. Trump told the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, that he would not use military force but wanted immediate negotiations to secure ownership of the territory, which he said is vital to U.S. national security.

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said in a statement: “The day ends on a better note than it began.”

He added: “Now let’s sit down and figure out how we can address America’s Arctic security concerns while respecting the Kingdom of Denmark’s red lines.”

Announcing his decision on Truth Social on Wednesday, Trump said more information would become available “as discussions progress.”

He added that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff would “report directly” to him as negotiations progress.

Trump provided no further details, raising questions about whether they had discussed a sale or lease, how a potential deal would address security concerns he has consistently raised and what Denmark, which controls the territory, thought about a potential deal.

In the hours that followed, some details began to emerge.

Trump told CNBC the deal would last “forever” and could cover mineral rights and planned projects. Golden Dome missile defense systemwhich is envisioned as a shield of interceptors and sensors spanning land, sea and space to protect the United States from long-range missile strikes.

Along with Greenland’s position on the planet, the Trump administration has talked about its vast — and largely untapped — reserves of rare earth minerals, many of which are crucial for technologies such as cell phones and electric vehicles.

After the release, Trump told CNN in Davos that the Greenland deal framework was “pretty advanced” and “gives us everything we need,” particularly “real national and international security.”

He did not, however, specify whether the framework included US ownership of Greenland.

Trump previously rejected the idea of ​​leasing Greenland, saying “you defend ownership. You don’t defend leases.”

According to the New York Times, the plan would grant the United States ownership of small parcels of land in the territory, where the United States could build military bases.

Officials who attended a NATO meeting on the issue on Wednesday told the newspaper that the envisaged arrangement would be similar to British bases in Cyprus, which are part of the British Overseas Territories.

Under existing agreements with Denmark, the United States can send as many troops as it wants to Greenland. It already has more than 100 soldiers permanently stationed at its Pituffik base, at the northwest tip of the territory.

NATO spokeswoman Allison Hart said in a statement that during the meeting, Trump and Rutte “discussed the critical importance of security in the Arctic region for all Allies, including the United States.”

“Negotiations between Denmark, Greenland and the United States will continue to ensure that Russia and China never gain a foothold – economically or militarily – in Greenland,” she also said.

Trump had said he planned to impose 10% tariffs “on all goods” sent from the UK to the US from February 1, increasing to 25% from June 1, until a deal is reached for Washington to buy Greenland from Denmark.

The same would apply to goods coming from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Finland – all of which are members of NATO, the defense alliance founded in 1949.

In a speech to the World Economic Forum on Wednesday, Trump said he was “looking to negotiate immediately” to acquire Greenland, but insisted the United States would not take the territory by force.

“We probably won’t achieve anything unless I decide to use excessive force. We would be unstoppable, but we won’t do it,” Trump said Wednesday. “I don’t need to use force. I don’t want to use force. I won’t use force.”

He also urged world leaders to allow the United States to take control of Greenland from Denmark, saying: “You can say yes and we will be very grateful.” Or you can say no and we will remember. »

But Trump has suggested he would not be receptive to any agreement on U.S. use of Greenland that was not full ownership.

In his own speech in Davos the day before, French President Emmanuel Macron criticized Trump’s previous threat of tariffs, saying an “endless accumulation of new tariffs” by the United States was “fundamentally unacceptable.”

Macron was among those who urged the EU to consider retaliatory options against the new US levies.

In his speech, Trump took aim at Macron, saying France had been “screwing” the United States for decades.

The US president also attacked Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who spoke in Davos on Tuesday, urging “middle powers” like Australia, Argentina and his own country to unite, saying: “If we’re not at the table, we’re on the menu.”

In response, the US president accused Carney of being ungrateful to the United States.

“Canada lives on because of the United States,” Trump said. “Remember this, Mark, the next time you make your statements.”