Trump Reasserts Greenland Claim at Davos, Says No Nation Other Than US Can Secure It

The Greenland controversy escalated sharply at the World Economic Forum in Davos after Donald Trump declared that no country other than the United States is capable of “securing” the Arctic island. Framing the proposal as a matter of global security, Trump insisted that US control of Greenland would strengthen — not weaken — the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, even as allies voiced alarm.

Speaking at Davos, Trump said the US requires Greenland for strategic national and international security due to its location between North America, Russia and China. He argued that Denmark had failed to adequately defend the territory historically and described the post-World War II return of Greenland as a mistake — remarks that drew visible unease across European capitals.

While claiming respect for the people of Denmark and Greenland, Trump simultaneously accused Denmark of being “ungrateful” and asserted that Greenland lies “undefended” in a critical geopolitical corridor. He pushed for immediate negotiations, adding that the US would not use military force — a reassurance that did little to calm nerves given the accompanying tariff threats against European nations opposing the move.

European leaders responded firmly. Senior EU officials reiterated that Greenland’s future must be decided by Greenlanders themselves and warned that Europe is “fully prepared to act” against economic or political coercion. The comments marked a shift from diplomatic restraint to direct resistance, reflecting growing frustration with Washington’s hard-line posture.

Trump also used the Davos platform to criticise NATO, claiming the US has been treated “very unfairly” by the alliance despite what he described as historic American contributions. He argued that US dominance within NATO has preserved European security — a claim countered by allies who stressed collective defence and international law. Beyond Greenland, Trump broadened his address to include trade, energy and global power dynamics, boasting of sweeping trade deals and highlighting expanded US involvement in oil and nuclear energy. He also referenced Venezuela, suggesting that US pressure had forced negotiations — reinforcing a broader narrative of leverage-driven diplomacy.

The remarks have transformed Greenland from a strategic discussion into a symbol of resurgent great-power politics. What was once an abstract Arctic debate has now become a real test of alliances, sovereignty and the limits of unilateral ambition.

As Davos continues, the Greenland standoff looms large — not just as a regional issue, but as a measure of how firmly international norms will be defended when confronted with raw power claims.