U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday withdrew his threat to impose a 10 percent tariff on goods from eight European countries, which was set to begin in February. The tariff threat was issued in response to their opposition to his plan for the United States to take control of Greenland from Denmark.
Trump reiterated his desire for the U.S. to acquire Greenland, but he ruled out the use of force, stating that seizing the semiautonomous Arctic territory would not be necessary—even amid growing Chinese and Russian influence in the region.
Following a meeting with NATO Chief Mark Rutte in Davos, Switzerland, Trump announced on social media that they have “formed the framework of a future deal with respect to Greenland and, in fact, the entire Arctic Region.”
He added that because of this plan, the tariff threat has been withdrawn. Further discussions on Greenland and the “Golden Dome” missile shield are expected to follow.
During his speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump emphasized that other countries depend heavily on the United States for peace and prosperity, and claimed that his foreign and economic policies over the past year have strengthened that reputation.
Trump stated that while the U.S. has the option to use “excessive strength and force,” he does not want to, and he confirmed that he would not use force to seize Greenland.
In a Q&A session after the speech, Trump also said he maintains “very good relationships” with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling Xi an “incredible man” and praising his leadership.
— Agencies
