The US president softened his stance after a meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte in Davos
US President Donald Trump has dropped his threat to impose new tariffs on European countries that oppose his plan to acquire Greenland from Denmark.
He made the announcement after speaking with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos.
“Based upon a very productive meeting that I have had with the Secretary General of NATO, Mark Rutte, we have formed the framework of a future deal with respect to Greenland and, in fact, the entire Arctic Region,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Wednesday. He said the arrangement would benefit both the US and other NATO members.
“Based upon this understanding, I will not be imposing the Tariffs that were scheduled to go into effect on February 1st,” Trump wrote. He added that he and Rutte discussed Greenland’s role in the US Golden Dome missile defense system.
Rutte told Fox News after the meeting that he and Trump agreed that “collectively we have to protect the Arctic region.” He added that the US would continue talking with Denmark and Greenland on preventing Russia and China from gaining a foothold on the island.
Trump has long insisted that the US must own Greenland because of its strategic location and to deter Moscow and Beijing. He said earlier that he would impose a 10% tariff on European countries starting in February, including Denmark, and increase it to 25% in June if no deal was reached. A number of NATO members condemned the move.
Speaking in Davos on Wednesday, Trump reiterated his claim on the Danish self-governing island but ruled out the use of force.
Earlier on Wednesday, the European Parliament suspended work on approving a trade deal between the EU and the US, citing opposition to Trump’s tariff threats.
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