Greenland: Trump talks about a “future agreement” with NATO, Denmark welcomes “positive signals”

A backpedaling that looks like a victory for the Europeans? Donald Trump indicated this Wednesday evening that he would not impose on the eight European countries his 10% customs duties that he threatened to put in place, claiming to have obtained everything he wanted in an agreement with NATO.

A decision which comes within the framework of “a future agreement concerning Greenland and, in fact, the entire Arctic region” with NATO. “Based on this agreement, I will not impose the tariffs which were to come into force on February 1. Additional discussions are underway regarding the Golden Dome as it relates to Greenland. More information will be communicated as discussions progress,” the American president said on the Truth social network.

This project “gives us everything we wanted”, he assured, referring to a “long-term” agreement which will last “forever”.

Donald Trump sent “positive messages” by suspending his threats of customs taxes and renouncing a military attack, the Danish Minister of Foreign Affairs said on Wednesday, without wanting to comment on the draft agreement announced by the American president.

“Trump says he’s pausing the trade war, says ‘I’m not going to attack Greenland,’ these are positive messages,” Lars Løkke Rasmussen said on Danish public television DR.

NATO chief Mark Rutte had a “very productive discussion” with Donald Trump, his spokesperson said on Wednesday. Negotiations between Denmark, Greenland and the United States will continue to ensure that Russia and China can never gain a foothold, economically or militarily, on the island, she added in a statement.

The resigning Dutch Prime Minister, Dick Schoof, also welcomed the American president’s decision on Wednesday. “It is positive that we are now on the path to de-escalation and that the issue of 10% tariffs on imports has been abandoned,” he said on Platform

“A piece of ice”

Donald Trump’s speech, in front of a packed room in Davos, was received in a mixed manner on Wednesday, between relief over his renunciation of force in Greenland and concern over his obstinacy in acquiring this autonomous Danish territory.

For more than an hour, the American president praised the “brilliant” health of the United States, defended his restrictive migration policy and, above all, insisted on ownership of Greenland, “a piece of ice” on which, according to him, the security of the United States depends. And the world, even if he confused it several times with Iceland.

When he arrives, the participants present at the Davos Economic Forum who were lucky enough to secure a place in the room all stand up as one movement, less to applaud him than to take a photo of him with their cell phones.

Hundreds of other people queued in vain to see the American commander in chief, star of this year’s summit of the rich and powerful in the Swiss Alps. They are relegated to small annex rooms or in the corridors, forced to follow the intervention via screen. Even Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics was turned away.

“Stupid people”

In the auditorium, hearty laughter is heard when Donald Trump rejoices at being back in person in Davos after six years of absence, to address “so many friends, and a few enemies”. Or when, in front of an audience of bosses, businessmen and political leaders, he makes fun of Emmanuel Macron’s sunglasses (worn because of an eye problem).

But the laughter becomes nervous, even embarrassed or indignant, when the leader of the world’s leading power talks about “stupid people” who buy wind turbines, whom he abhors, enriching China according to him, or when he attacks his European and Canadian allies head-on.

Without the United States, “today you would speak German and a little Japanese,” he says, referring to American intervention during the Second World War.

Invoking the central role of the United States in this and the security interests of his country, he says he renounces using “force” to get his hands on Greenland, but calls for “immediate negotiations” to acquire the Arctic island, at the risk of breaking up the transatlantic alliance. To achieve his goals, he had previously threatened several European countries with increased customs duties.