By Ebi Kesiena
United States President Donald Trump has said he will not use military force to take control of Greenland, but has renewed calls for negotiations over his long-standing proposal for the United States to acquire the island.
Speaking on Wednesday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Trump argued that the annexation of the autonomous Danish territory is vital to US national security, despite strong opposition from Greenlanders and criticism from European leaders.
“People thought I would use force. I don’t have to use force. I don’t want to use force. I won’t use force,” Trump said during his address.
The US president stated that he was seeking “immediate negotiations” to revisit the idea of Greenland’s acquisition, adding that Denmark would ultimately have to make a decision. He framed the issue as a strategic choice, saying cooperation would be welcomed, while rejection would have consequences, linking the matter to broader security concerns within NATO.
Trump also claimed that the United States is uniquely positioned to protect the vast Arctic territory, describing Greenland as a critical landmass of ice requiring strong security oversight.
During the more than hour-long speech, Trump on several occasions appeared to mistakenly refer to Greenland as Iceland.
Commenting on the remarks, Christine Nissen, chief analyst at the Europa think tank, said that Trump’s explicit rejection of the use of force could be interpreted by Denmark as a signal of de-escalation.
She noted that European countries, including Denmark, appear to be adjusting their approach to Trump on the Greenland issue, balancing caution with a gradual shift in strategy due to their long-standing political and security dependence on the United States.
