Trump’s shifting Davos stance on Greenland and NATO alarms European allies

At the World Economic Forum in Davos, President Trump moved from insisting on full ownership of Greenland and threatening tariffs to declaring himself satisfied with a vague framework for a deal, a reversal that has unsettled European allies. For days Mr. Trump had demanded control of the Danish territory and used a keynote to insult European leaders; on Wednesday he said he was content with a framework so imprecise that he could not say whether the United States would actually own the island.

He questioned the value of NATO and then praised its leader, Mark Rutte, as "doing a fantastic job," and told Fox Business, "We're getting everything we want," while also acknowledging the deal was still being negotiated. Administration aides argue his use of tariffs is an effective negotiating tactic, and "His allies point to Gaza, Venezuela, Iran, Panama and other places — and to trade concessions by nations around the globe — as evidence that his techniques pay dividends," the reporting said.

A senior Danish official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, "There have been no direct discussions between Denmark and the U.S. about the possibility of granting the U.S. sovereign parcels of land." European leaders and U.S. officials at Davos expressed confusion about Mr.

Trump's intentions.

Key Topics

World, Donald Trump, Greenland, World Economic Forum, Nato, Mark Rutte