US President Donald Trump has escalated threats to take control of Greenland, declaring on social media that “there is no turning back” and that “Greenland is imperative.” During a White House press conference, asked how far he is prepared to go to secure the island, Trump replied curtly: “You’ll find out.”
His statements have sparked strong international reactions. French President Emmanuel Macron, speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, warned of a “shift towards a world without rules,” while Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said that “the old order is not coming back.”
Trump was expected to arrive in Davos on Wednesday, but a minor electrical problem on Air Force One forced his return. The White House said he would travel to Davos on a different plane and that "multiple meetings are scheduled for Greenland."
In the same media appearance, Trump said that “things are going to be very good” for Greenland. Asked by the BBC if he was willing to risk the division of the NATO alliance over the issue, he said that “nobody has done more for NATO than me,” adding that “NATO will be happy and we will be happy,” as according to him Greenland is necessary “for world security.”
However, Trump questioned the alliance's willingness to help the US if necessary, stressing that the US "will always come to the aid of allies" but that he doubts reciprocity. NATO currently has 32 member countries and is based on the principle of collective defense of Article 5, according to which an attack on one is considered an attack on all.
The US president has not ruled out using military force to take Greenland. Asked by NBC News if he would use force, he replied: "No comment."
Meanwhile, Greenland's Minister of Industry and Natural Resources, Naaja Nathanielsen, told BBC Newsnight that Greenlanders are "astonished" by Trump's demands. "We don't want to be Americans and we've been very clear about that," she said, adding: "What value do you place on our culture and the right to decide our own future?"
