News of a framework deal came as Trump backed off tariff threats and ruled out taking Greenland by force, bringing a degree of respite in what was brewing to be the biggest rupture in transatlantic ties in decades.
But the details of any agreement were unclear and Denmark insisted its sovereignty over the island was not up for discussion. Denmark’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Trump’s latest comments.
“It’s really being negotiated now, the details of it. But essentially it’s total access. It’s — there’s no end, there’s no time limit,” Trump told Fox Business Network in an interview from Davos, where he is attending the World Economic Forum.
After meeting with Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte, Trump had earlier said there could be a deal that satisfied his desire for a “Golden Dome” missile-defence system and access to critical minerals while blocking what he says are Russia and China’s ambitions in the Arctic.
Rutte said minerals exploitation was not discussed during his meeting with Trump, adding that specific negotiations on the Arctic island would continue between the US, Denmark and Greenland itself.
Rutte said that Nato allies would need to step up their presence in the Arctic under a framework deal with Trump.
Rutte told Reuters in an interview in Davos that it was now up to Nato’s senior commanders to work through the details of extra security requirements.
“I have no doubt we can do this quite fast. Certainly I would hope for 2026, I hope even early in 2026,” he said.
Rutte also said the intensified Arctic effort would not drain resources in support of Ukraine, whose President Volodymyr Zelensky is scheduled to meet Trump today.
Asked if Nato allies can take Trump at his word, Rutte responded: “You can always take Donald Trump at his word”.
European Union leaders will rethink their ties with the US at an emergency summit today after Trump’s threat of tariffs and even military action to acquire Greenland badly shook confidence in the transatlantic relationship, diplomats said.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, welcoming Trump’s U-turn on Greenland, urged Europeans not to be too quick to write off the transatlantic partnership.
But EU governments remain wary of another change of mind by a mercurial president who is increasingly seen as a bully that Europe will have to stand up to, and they are focused on coming up with a longer-term plan on how to deal with the United States under this administration and possibly its successors too.
“Trump crossed the Rubicon. He might do it again. There is no going back to what it was. And leaders will discuss it,” one EU diplomat said, adding that the bloc needed to move away from its heavy reliance on the US in many areas.
“We need to try to keep him (Trump) close while working on becoming more independent from the US It is a process, probably a long one,” the diplomat said.
EU reliance on US
After decades of relying on the US for defence within the Nato alliance, the EU lacks the needed intelligence, transport, missile defence and production capabilities to defend itself against a possible Russian attack. This gives the US substantial leverage.
Read More: Trump dropped Greenland military option after aides intervened, sources say
The US is also Europe’s biggest trading partner, making the EU vulnerable to Trump’s policies of imposing tariffs to reduce Washington’s trade deficit in goods, and, as in the case of Greenland, to achieve other goals.
“We need to discuss where the red lines are, how we deal with this bully across the Atlantic, where our strengths are,” a second EU diplomat said.
“Trump says no tariffs today, but does that mean also no tariffs tomorrow, or will he again quickly change his mind? We need to discuss what to do then,” the second diplomat said.
The EU had been considering a package of retaliatory tariffs on 93 billion euros ($108.74b) on US imports or anti-coercive measures if Trump had gone ahead with his own tariffs, while knowing such a step would harm Europe’s economy as well as the United States.
Trump U-Turn calms markets
Trump’s ambition to wrest sovereignty over Greenland from Denmark has threatened to blow apart the alliance that underpinned Western security since the end of World War Two, and reignite a trade war with Europe.
His abrupt U-turn triggered relief and a rebound in European markets but also questions about how much damage had already been done to transatlantic ties.
Protesters wave Greenlandic flags as they take part in a rally under the slogans ‘Hands off Greenland’ and ‘Greenland for Greenlanders’, in front of the City Hall in Copenhagen, Denmark on January 17. PHOTO: AFP
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said no negotiations had been held with Nato regarding the sovereignty of Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark.
“It is still a difficult and serious situation, but progress has also been made in the sense that we have now got things where they need to be. Namely that we can discuss how we promote common security in the Arctic region,” Frederiksen said.
Worries on Future of translantic ties
However, diplomats told Reuters that EU leaders will rethink relations with the US as the Greenland episode has badly shaken confidence in the transatlantic relationship.
EU governments remain wary of another change of mind from the US president, who is increasingly seen as a bully Europe will have to stand up to.
“Trump crossed the Rubicon. He might do it again. There is no coming back to what it was. And leaders will discuss it,” one EU diplomat said, adding the EU needed to find an alternative to its dependence on the US in many areas.
Also Read: Greenland releases ‘crisis’ guidelines
There were also mixed feelings among some residents in the Greenland capital, Nuuk.
“I’m very thrilled to hear that, first of all, because he has been saying a lot of stuff about taking Greenland with force, like he’ll do it the hard way, which is so scary to hear,” said Ivi Luna Olsen, a tour guide.
“But I’m also like keeping my hopes down and still, like, hoping for the best and preparing for the worst because sometimes he can be saying a lot of stuff.”
Addressing the issue for the first time in public, President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that Greenland’s ownership was not Russia’s concern.
China’s foreign ministry said on Thursday that “the so-called China threat” to Greenland was groundless.
Trump’s push to seize Greenland had threatened to reignite a trade war with Europe and some business groups remain wary.
“What President Trump announces today may be obsolete tomorrow. Reliability is not a minor issue in international trade, but rather a key prerequisite for investment and growth,” Dirk Jandura, president of Germany’s wholesale and export association BGA told Reuters.
“The ongoing unpredictability is causing lasting damage to confidence in trade relations and remains a serious risk to the global economy.”
Also speaking in Davos, Merz welcomed Trump’s move, saying countries should not give up on Nato.
“Despite all the frustration and anger of recent months, let us not be too quick to write off the transatlantic partnership,” he added.
Russia, China cooperation on Arctic
Increased cooperation between China and Russia is a source of concern for Nato, the top commander of the trans-Atlantic alliance Alexus Grynkewich said today.
“We’ve seen that over the last several years, it’s been both in the maritime domain with increased joint patrols as well as in the air domain with long range bomber patrols being conducted jointly”, Alexus Grynkewich, a US Air Force general serving as Nato’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe, told journalists.
“We’re constantly trying to enhance our posture and think of ways that nations can enhance our posture in the Arctic.”