WASHINGTON: United States President Donald Trump on Wednesday claimed that only ‘great power’ US could defend Greenland, adding his country was the world’s “economic engine”.
He slammed Europe as “not heading in the right direction”, as Washington’s allies push back against its bid to seize Greenland.
“The USA is the economic engine on the planet. And when America booms, the entire world booms. It’s been the history,” he said during a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where the Greenland crisis has dominated talks.
On Europe, the US leader said parts of continent were “not recognisable”, adding: “I love Europe, and I want to see Europe go good, but it’s not heading in the right direction.”
He earlier told a news conference that he would hold meetings in Davos regarding the Danish territory and expressed confidence that an agreement could eventually be reached.
“I think we will work something out where Nato is going to be very happy and where we’re going to be very happy. But we need it for security purposes. We need it for national security,” Trump said.
Nato leaders have warned that Trump’s strategy on Greenland could destabilise the alliance, even as Denmark and Greenland have proposed expanded US military access to the strategically located Arctic territory, which is home to about 57,000 people.
Asked how far he was prepared to go to secure Greenland, Trump offered a cryptic response. “You’ll find out,” he said. He has repeatedly framed Greenland as a critical Arctic outpost to counter Russian and Chinese influence, though Moscow has dismissed such claims as exaggerated.
Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte declined to comment directly on tensions surrounding the issue but acknowledged growing strategic competition in the Arctic. “President Trump and other leaders are right. We have to do more there. We have to protect the Arctic against Russian and Chinese influence,” he said during a panel discussion in Davos.
Despite Trump’s assertions, there is limited evidence of significant Chinese or Russian maritime activity near Greenland’s coast. Russia has said claims of a growing threat are being used to “whip up hysteria”.
Sources familiar with the matter have previously told Reuters that Trump’s interest in Greenland is also linked to legacy ambitions, potentially expanding US territory on a scale not seen since Alaska and Hawaii became states in 1959.
In an unusual breach of diplomatic protocol, Trump publicly released the text of a private message from French President Emmanuel Macron, who urged him to meet G7 leaders in Paris after Davos.
“I do not understand what you are doing on Greenland,” Macron wrote. France later said it had proposed a Nato military exercise in Greenland, while Denmark declined to comment on reports it may deploy up to 1,000 troops there in 2026.
Economic agenda at Davos
Trump’s official purpose for attending Davos is to highlight what he describes as strong US economic performance. He is scheduled to deliver a keynote address on Wednesday, during which he is expected to announce a housing plan allowing Americans to use funds from their 401(k) retirement accounts for home down payments.
“President Trump will unveil initiatives to drive down housing costs, tout his economic agenda that has propelled the US to lead the world in economic growth,” a White House official said.
While in Davos, Trump is also expected to hold bilateral meetings with the leaders of Switzerland, Poland and Egypt.
On Thursday, he is set to preside over a ceremony linked to the Board of Peace, an initiative he launched to oversee redevelopment efforts in Gaza amid a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Trump has suggested the board could take on a wider global role, prompting concern among diplomats over overlap with the United Nations.
Trump said he liked the UN but believed it had “never lived up to its potential”.
He is due to return to Washington late oin Thursday.
Air Force One returns after minor electrical issue detected
Trump’s trip to the WEF was briefly disrupted on Tuesday night after Air Force One returned to Joint Base Andrews near Washington due to what the White House described as a “minor electrical issue” detected shortly after takeoff.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the aircraft landed safely and the journey would continue on a different plane. No injuries were reported, and officials said the issue posed no immediate threat. While such incidents are rare, they are not unprecedented, with previous flights carrying former presidents and vice presidents having been diverted or affected by technical or weather-related issues.
