Speaking on the sidelines of the forum in Davos, Switzerland, French President Emmanuel Macron warned of a “shift towards a world without rules,” in an apparent reference to rising geopolitical tensions.
The White House confirmed that Air Force One turned around mid-journey, with Trump set to board a different aircraft to continue his trip. Trump said there were “a lot of meetings scheduled in Greenland.”
According to the BBC, during a lengthy press briefing, Trump told reporters that “things are going to work well” in Greenland.
While the U.S. president has not ruled out the use of military force to advance his plans regarding Greenland, he declined to comment when NBC News asked whether he intended to acquire territory, responding only with “no comment.”
In an interview with BBC Newsnight on Tuesday evening, Greenland’s Minister of Industry and Natural Resources, Naaja Nathanielsen, said Greenlanders were not surprised by Trump’s demands. She said the population had been clear about its position, adding: “We do not want to be Americans.”
Turning again to Davos, Trump shared screenshots that he claimed were private text messages sent to him by Macron and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
Meanwhile, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen addressed the issue in a speech on Tuesday, stressing that Europe remains fully committed to the security of the Arctic region.
Trump also said he would impose a 10 percent tariff on all goods imported from eight European countries starting February 1 if they reject his proposal to acquire Greenland. Macron rejected the continued use of tariffs, calling them unacceptable when employed as leverage against territorial sovereignty.
Sources close to the European Parliament said the legislature is considering suspending approval of the US-EU trade deal agreed last July, a move that would mark a significant escalation in tensions between Washington and Brussels.
