US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he would not resort to force to take control of Greenland, an autonomous territory belonging to Washington’s ally, Denmark, but maintained that the United States still needs to have “ownership” of it.
Speaking to world leaders at a summit in Davos, Trump said, “We probably won’t get anything unless I decide to use excessive strength and force where we would be, frankly, unstoppable, but I won’t do that. Okay. Now everyone’s saying, Oh, good. That’s probably the biggest statement I made, because people thought I would use force.”
“I don’t have to use force. I don’t want to use force. I won’t use force.”
Trump arrived in Davos on Wednesday for a highly anticipated encounter with European leaders, as his push to acquire Greenland threatens to strain transatlantic relations.
His trip was briefly disrupted after a “minor electrical issue” forced his presidential aircraft to turn back shortly after takeoff. Ahead of the World Economic Forum, Trump had taunted European leaders over the future of the autonomous Danish territory.
However, leaders at the Swiss ski resort have presented a united front against Trump’s hardline approach. French President Emmanuel Macron pledged to stand up to “bullies,” while Canada’s Mark Carney warned that the situation could lead to a “rupture, not a transition” in the US-led global order.
The coordinated response prompted a reaction from Trump’s Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, who urged European leaders to “take a deep breath.”
Trump’s comments came as he arrived at the World Economic Forum amid mounting tensions surrounding his Greenland ambitions, with European leaders continuing to voice strong opposition to his stance.
