DAVOS, Switzerland (AP) 鈥� President on Wednesday scrapped the tariffs that he threatened to impose on eight European nations to press for U.S. control , pulling a dramatic reversal shortly after insisting he wanted to get the island “including right, title and ownership.鈥�
In a post on his social media site, Trump said he had agreed with on a 鈥渇ramework of a future deal鈥� on Arctic security, potentially defusing tension that had far-reaching geopolitical implications.
He said 鈥渁dditional discussions” on Greenland were being held concerning the , a multilayered, $175 billion system that for the first time will put U.S. weapons in space.
Trump offered few details, saying they were still being worked out. But one idea NATO members have discussed as part of a compromise with Trump was that Denmark and the alliance would work with the U.S. to build more U.S. military bases on Greenland.
That’s according to a European official familiar with the matter but not authorized to comment publicly. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said it was not immediately clear if that idea was included in the framework Trump announced.
Trump has backed off tariffs before
The president has threatened tariffs before only to back away. In April, after first saying he would slap on nations from around the world, which prompted a sharp negative market reaction, Trump eased off.
But his change of heart this time came only after he used his speech at the in the Swiss Alps to focus on Greenland and threatened to upend NATO, an alliance that has been among the globe’s most unshakable since the early days of the Cold War.
In his address, Trump said he was asking for territory that was 鈥渃old and poorly located” and that the U.S. had effectively saved Europe during World War II while declaring of NATO: 鈥淚t鈥檚 a very small ask compared to what we have given them for many, many decades.鈥�
鈥淲e probably won鈥檛 get anything unless I decide to use excessive strength and force, where we would be frankly unstoppable. But I won鈥檛 do that, OK?鈥� Trump said.
But Trump has also said repeatedly that, while the U.S. will defend NATO, he wasn’t convinced the alliance will backup Washington, if needed, and suggested that was at least part of the reason for his aggressive stance toward Greenland. That prompted , in a post-speech event with Trump, to say that the alliance would stand with the U.S. if it is attacked.
鈥淵ou can be assured, absolutely,鈥� Rutte said. A short time later came Trump’s post canceling the tariffs.
Danish Foreign Minister Lars L酶kke Rasmussen said he welcomed Trump ruling out taking 鈥淕reenland by force鈥� and pausing 鈥漷he trade war with Europe.鈥�
“Now, let鈥檚 sit down and find out how we can address the American security concerns in the Arctic while respecting the red lines of the Kingdom of Denmark,鈥� he said in a statement.
President cites national security
Trump argues that the U.S. needs Greenland for national security and to counter threats from Russia and China in the Arctic region, despite America already having a large military base there. He unless they negotiate a transfer of the semi-autonomous territory.
The tariffs were to have started at 10% next month and climb to 25% in June.
Trump often tries to increase pressure on the other side when he believes it can lead to a favorable agreement. His threats at Davos appeared on the verge of rupturing NATO, which was founded by leading European nations, the U.S. and Canada to counter the Soviet Union.
The alliance’s other members were steadfast in saying Greenland is not for sale and cannot be wrested from Denmark, while angrily rejecting Trump’s promised tariffs.
A Danish government official told The Associated Press after Trump’s speech that Copenhagen was ready to discuss U.S. security concerns. But the official, who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity, underscored the government鈥檚 position that 鈥渞ed lines鈥濃�� namely Denmark鈥檚 sovereignty 鈥� must be respected.
It was not immediately clear how Trump’s canceling of tariffs might change such calculations.
Greenland tells citizens to prepare
In the meantime, Greenland’s government responded by telling its citizens to be prepared. It has published a handbook in English and Greenlandic on what to do in a crisis that urges residents to ensure they have sufficient food, water, fuel and supplies at home to survive for five days.
鈥淲e just went to the grocery store and bought the supplies,鈥� said Tony Jakobsen in said, showing off the contents of bags that included candles, snacks and toilet paper.
Jakobsen said he thought Trump鈥檚 rhetoric towards Greenland was 鈥渏ust threats… but it鈥檚 better to be ready than not ready.鈥�
Before backing down, Trump had urged Denmark and the rest of NATO to stand aside, adding an ominous warning.
鈥淲e want a piece of ice for world protection, and they won鈥檛 give it,鈥� Trump said. 鈥淵ou can say yes, and we will be very appreciative. Or you can say no, and we will remember.鈥�
He also called for opening 鈥渋mmediate negotiations鈥� for the U.S. to acquire Greenland. In subsequent comments to reporters, he declined to name a price that might be paid, saying only, 鈥淭here鈥檚 a bigger price, and that鈥檚 the price of safety and security and national security and international security.鈥�
His arrival in Davos was delayed after a minor forced a return to Washington to switch aircraft. As Trump鈥檚 motorcade headed down a narrow road to the speech site, onlookers 鈥� including some skiers 鈥� lined the route, some making obscene gestures.
Financial markets that had on Trump鈥檚 threatened tariffs Wednesday. Also breathing a sigh of relief were a number of U.S. officials who had also been concerned that Trump鈥檚 hard-line stance and bellicose rhetoric toward Greenland, Denmark and other NATO allies could harm other foreign policy goals.
Trump’s Davos speech was originally supposed to focus on how to lower U.S. housing prices 鈥� part of a larger effort to bring down the cost of living. Greenland instead carried the day, though Trump mistakenly referred to it as Iceland four times during his speech.
鈥淭his enormous unsecured island is actually part of North America,鈥� Trump said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 our territory.鈥�
When he finally did mention housing, Trump suggested he did not support a measure to encourage affordability. He said bringing down rising home prices hurts property values and makes homeowners who once felt wealthy because of the equity in their houses feel poorer.
鈥楴ow there鈥檚 another threat’
Before Trump announced that he was abandoning the tariffs and potentially easing international pressure, his speech left people in Nuuk preparing for the worst.
Resident Johnny Hedemann said it was 鈥渋nsulting鈥� that Trump 鈥渢alks about the Greenlandic people and the Greenlandic nation as just an ice cube.鈥� He spoke while heading out to buy a camping stove and instant mashed potatoes.
鈥淟iving in this nature, you have to be prepared for almost anything. And now there鈥檚 another threat 鈥� and that鈥檚 Trump,鈥� Hedemann said.
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Weissert and Madhani reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Emma Burrows in Nuuk, Greenland, Jamey Keaten in Davos and Michelle L. Price in Washington contributed to this report.
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