Trump Steps Up Aggressive Pursuit Of Greenland In Davos Address
President Donald Trump increased the pressure on Denmark to sell Greenland to the United States, doubling down that securing the territory is paramount to national and international security.
In a wide-ranging speech Wednesday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, the president said the "almost entirely uninhabited and undeveloped territory" is sitting undefended in a key strategic location between the U.S., Russia and China.
He said the acquisition wouldn't pose a threat to NATO but would enhance the alliance's security.
"It's the United States alone that can protect this giant mass of land, this giant piece of ice, develop it and improve it," Trump said.
Trump said the U.S. would use land in Greenland to develop "the Golden Dome for America," a $175B integrated air and missile defense system. The dome would protect the country from foreign missile attacks, and the president has claimed it would be able to shoot down hypersonic, ballistic and advanced cruise missiles and drones.
Trump stopped short Wednesday of calling for a hostile takeover of the territory, saying he doesn't have to, doesn't want to and won't use force to obtain Greenland. When asked at a press conference on Tuesday about how far he would be willing to go to take over the territory, he said, "You'll find out."
At Davos, he disputed claims that the U.S. is seeking to acquire Greenland to control its large reserves of rare-earth minerals, often used in technologies such as semiconductors and batteries.
The speech was the latest step in a progressive offensive to take control of the island.
On Saturday, Trump said in a social media post he would impose tariffs on a bloc of European countries until they agree to negotiate a deal to sell Greenland to the United States.
Greenland is a territory of Denmark, which will face a 10% tariff on all goods sent to the U.S. beginning Feb. 1. Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, Britain, the Netherlands and Finland, countries aligned with Denmark in its refusal to accept Trump’s demands, will also be subject to the 10% tariff.
It wasn't immediately clear how a potential Supreme Court ruling on Trump's use of emergency powers to implement tariffs will specifically affect these import taxes.
Leaders from countries affected by the tariffs and Trump's Republican allies swiftly repudiated the action.
Sen. Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican, said in a social media post Saturday that the fact that a small handful of "advisors" are actively pushing for coercive action to seize territory of an ally is "beyond stupid."
This response to our own allies for sending a small number of troops to Greenland for training is bad for America, bad for American businesses, and bad for America's allies. It's great for Putin, Xi and other adversaries who want to see NATO divided. The fact that a small handful… https://t.co/GQQw3JTvXn
— Senator Thom Tillis (@SenThomTillis) January 17, 2026
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson also took to social media over the weekend to post that only Denmark and Greenland decide matters concerning themselves.
"We will not let ourselves be blackmailed," he said. "I will always stand up for my country, and for our allied neighbors."
But Trump made his position clear at Davos, painting the negotiations with Denmark as a binary decision.
"They have a choice," Trump said. "You can say, 'Yes,' and we will be very appreciative, or you can say, 'No,' and we will remember."
