Donald Trump has not ruled out using force to seize Greenland from Denmark as tensions escalate between the US and NATO.
The president was asked in a telephone interview on Monday if he would use military force to take Greenland if a deal could not be reached over the Danish territory.
Trump gave a simple response: ‘No comment.’
The president ramped up pressure as he imposed tariffs on eight European nations over their support for Greenland. The tariffs will start at 10 percent next month and rise again to 25 percent in June, remaining in place until a deal is reached.
Trump suggested in a private text exchange on Sunday with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre that his push to take Greenland is in retaliation for his failure to win the Nobel Peace Prize.
Denmark on Monday pulled out of the Davos summit as the crisis deepened.
Trump is set to deliver the keynote speech at the World Economic Forum at the Swiss resort on Wednesday, with the dispute over the Danish territory expected to dominate discussions between world leaders and diplomats on the sidelines.
The president has threatened to pull out of NATO if the US isn’t allowed to take control of Greenland, which he claims is integral to national security.
The EU is preparing to threaten the US with retaliatory tariffs on $110 billion in goods, or potentially deny America access to the common market, according to the Financial Times.
European stock markets dropped sharply on Monday, while Wall Street was closed for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland would face the tariff, Trump said in a Truth Social post on Saturday, after they sent troops to Greenland.
Since starting his second-term, Trump has suggested the US should acquire Greenland to stop Russia and China from taking over strategic positioning in the Artic region.
The Danish territory provides strategic access to the Arctic, where China and Russia have, in recent years, flexed their geopolitical might as the melting polar ice provides greater access to shipping lanes and natural resources.
Greenland, which houses NATO military bases, is also rich in oil, gold, graphite, copper, iron, and other rare earth elements.
The Trump administration believes Greenland could provide infrastructure for the proposed ‘Golden Dome’ missile defense system to protect North America from ballistic threats.
Greenland’s rare earth minerals and fossil fuels would be essential for America to decouple its reliance on Chinese supply chains.
‘Dear Mr president, dear Donald – on the contact across the Atlantic – on Greenland, Gaza, Ukraine – and your tariff announcement yesterday,’ Støre said.
‘You know our position on these issues. But we believe we should all work to take this down and de-escalate – so much is happening around us where we need to stand together. ‘We are proposing a call with you later today – with both of us or separately – give us a hint of what you prefer! Best – Alex and Jonas,’ the message concluded.’
‘Alex’ is short for Alexander Stubb, the president of Finland.
Conservative Stubb is seen as an ally to Trump in Europe and, away from politics, both men have a passion for golf and have played a round together.
Trump’s controversial response, which arrived less than 30 minutes later by text, warned that the US ‘no longer feels an obligation to think purely of peace’, because he was denied the Nobel Peace Prize in October last year, blaming the Norwegian government for the decision.
‘I have done more for NATO than any other person since its founding, and now NATO should do something for the United States,’ he added.
