President Donald Trump intensified his push to annex Greenland during a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Wednesday. Trump stated that the US will not use force to seize the territory but intends to utilize economic pressure to persuade European nations to agree to its acquisition.
Trump's remarks elicited a mixed reaction from international leaders, with some expressing concern over his intentions while others lauded the US president for acknowledging the potential dangers of military action. Lars LΓΈkke Rasmussen, Denmark's foreign minister, described Trump's statement as "positive" but emphasized that the challenges surrounding Greenland remain.
The US president claimed to have made significant economic progress under his leadership and touted the benefits of increased American engagement in global affairs. He also criticized European nations for failing to utilize their energy resources effectively, accusing them of being "losers."
Trump delivered a lengthy speech at Davos, which drew criticism from several world leaders. Mark Carney, Canada's prime minister, urged mid-sized countries to unite against US pressure during his own address on Tuesday. Trump took direct aim at Carney, claiming that Canada relies heavily on the US and should be grateful for its support.
The speech came after a U-turn by Trump regarding plans to impose sanctions on eight European nations over Greenland due to progress in talks with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. The president announced that he would not implement tariffs initially scheduled to take effect on February 1, citing ongoing discussions about a US missile defense shield based in part on the territory.
Trump's remarks also drew attention for his criticism of European leaders and his deployment of nationalist rhetoric during the speech. He claimed that under his Democratic predecessor, Joe Biden, the US was "a dead country" but has become the "hottest country anywhere in the world." Trump also discussed secret US military capabilities used in a recent operation to capture Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro.
The speech marked one of several high-profile meetings for Trump during his visit to Davos. He is set to hold further discussions with Polish, Swiss, and Egyptian leaders, as well as NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday.
Trump's remarks elicited a mixed reaction from international leaders, with some expressing concern over his intentions while others lauded the US president for acknowledging the potential dangers of military action. Lars LΓΈkke Rasmussen, Denmark's foreign minister, described Trump's statement as "positive" but emphasized that the challenges surrounding Greenland remain.
The US president claimed to have made significant economic progress under his leadership and touted the benefits of increased American engagement in global affairs. He also criticized European nations for failing to utilize their energy resources effectively, accusing them of being "losers."
Trump delivered a lengthy speech at Davos, which drew criticism from several world leaders. Mark Carney, Canada's prime minister, urged mid-sized countries to unite against US pressure during his own address on Tuesday. Trump took direct aim at Carney, claiming that Canada relies heavily on the US and should be grateful for its support.
The speech came after a U-turn by Trump regarding plans to impose sanctions on eight European nations over Greenland due to progress in talks with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. The president announced that he would not implement tariffs initially scheduled to take effect on February 1, citing ongoing discussions about a US missile defense shield based in part on the territory.
Trump's remarks also drew attention for his criticism of European leaders and his deployment of nationalist rhetoric during the speech. He claimed that under his Democratic predecessor, Joe Biden, the US was "a dead country" but has become the "hottest country anywhere in the world." Trump also discussed secret US military capabilities used in a recent operation to capture Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro.
The speech marked one of several high-profile meetings for Trump during his visit to Davos. He is set to hold further discussions with Polish, Swiss, and Egyptian leaders, as well as NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday.