Donald Trump doubles down on Greenland threat but rules out using force
Donald Trump has doubled down on his threats to annex Greenland, saying only the US could secure the Arctic territory, but ruled out using force.
The US president said he wanted “immediate negotiations” to “discuss the acquisition” of the mineral-rich Arctic island, claiming “this would not be a threat to Nato” but would instead “enhance” the alliance’s security.
Earlier, Sir Keir Starmer said he would “not yield” in his stance over Greenland in the face of Mr Trump’s demands.
Appearing to rule out taking the territory with military intervention, Mr Trump told the World Economic Forum in the Swiss Alps: “We probably won’t get anything unless I decide to use excessive strength and force, where we would be, frankly, unstoppable.
“But I won’t do that. I don’t have to use force, I don’t want to use force, I won’t use force.”
He launched fresh attacks on European allies by calling Denmark, to which Greenland belongs, “ungrateful” after the US’s “stupid” post-Second World War decision to “give Greenland back to Denmark”.
Calling Greenland an “undeveloped territory sitting undefended in a key strategic location between the United States, Russia and China”, he said “no nation or group of nations is in any position to be able to secure Greenland other than the United States”.
Mr Trump said he was “seeking immediate negotiations to once again discuss the acquisition of Greenland by the United States, just as we have acquired many other territories throughout our history, as many of the European nations have”.
He added: “This would not be a threat to Nato. This would greatly enhance the security of the alliance.”
This was “a very small ask” compared with what his country had done for Nato, the president told world leaders, claiming the US has “never gotten anything” from being a member.
Mr Trump also issued an ominous warning to Denmark and Greenland if they did not give into his demands, saying: “They have a choice: you can say yes and we will be very appreciative, or you can say no and we will remember.”
He cited rare earth minerals sitting under the territory’s ice and said the US alone can “develop” and “improve” Greenland, but also said: “That’s not the reason we need it. We need it for strategic national security and international security.”
Despite his insistence on the strategic importance of the island, Mr Trump appeared to confuse it with Iceland several times, including when he discussed the impact the crisis had on the US stock market.
He said: “Our stock market took the first dip yesterday because of Iceland, so Iceland has already cost us a lot of money.”
Sir Keir vowed to stand up to the White House occupant during Prime Minister’s Questions earlier on Wednesday.
The Prime Minister reiterated his position that “the future of Greenland is for the people of Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark alone” and that “threats of tariffs to pressurise allies are completely wrong”.
He said the Danish prime minister is coming to the UK on Thursday, adding: “I will not yield, Britain will not yield on our principles and values about the future of Greenland under threats of tariffs, and that is my clear position.”
Mr Trump has threatened to hit Britain and other European allies with 10% tariffs from February 1 unless they agree to his purchase of Greenland.
Support our Nation today
For the price of a cup of coffee a month you can help us create an independent, not-for-profit, national news service for the people of Wales, by the people of Wales.
It looks like the fight is gone from him. He looks and sounds like a man who has lost the will and the battle.
Two dog sleds and two and a half thousand polar bears facing west, TACO…LoL…
A death mask cast in bronze menaces the planet…the games people play…
RIP Joe South
Undoubedly Trump will still try and use tariffs as his last weapon but it wont work. The future of Greenland belongs with the Greenlanders, not with a greedy narcissist who just wants the country for it’s mineral wealth.
A solution might be Denmark (and other European countries) put their money ‘where their mouth is’ by stepping up to the plate and paying the USA 50% of what the USA pays for Greenland’s defense. Imho, a fare split of costs – I and fellow Americans don’t see why American tax payers should shoulder the whole cost/bill.
After the reparations for enslaving millions and stealing a continent…
Dude, just get your president to acknowledge that most Americans are suffering from a cost of living crisis and that will be the first step and secondly leave the rest of the world alone. There is no goodness that the US of A brings to the world.
Solution is impeaching the mad idiot.
Lavrov is running with this for Russia.
reforms owner farage now saying the same. The treasonous toad has had his orders. UK next if he gets power.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/jan/21/world-better-place-if-us-took-over-greenland-nigel-farage
farages brexit has left us exposed to this abuser.
Still not clear if he’s expecting to pay for it or be gifted it for free because “it’s a nice country you’ve got there, be a shame if something happened to it”.
What about the hypocrisy over the shameful treatment of the Chagossian people who want to resettle the Chagos Islands but two-tier Starmer has ridden roughshod over their human rights.
Damn right