Trump Hardens Stance on Greenland, Refuses to Rule Out Use of Force

US President Donald Trump has taken a tougher position on his threat to take over Greenland, declaring that there is “no turning back” and calling the Arctic island “essential” for the United States.

In a post on social media, Trump said there was no room for retreat on the Greenland issue. Later, at a White House press conference, when asked how far he was prepared to go to acquire Greenland, he replied, “You’ll find out,” adding that “everything is going very well” on the matter.

The remarks come as world leaders gather in Davos, Switzerland, for the annual World Economic Forum. Speaking there, French President Emmanuel Macron warned that the world is moving toward a “system without rules,” while Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said the “old world order is not coming back.” Trump is scheduled to arrive in Davos on Wednesday and said that “many meetings” on Greenland are planned during the forum.

When questioned about NATO, Trump claimed, “No one has done more for NATO than I have,” but expressed doubts about whether the alliance would come to the United States’ aid if needed. NATO currently has 32 member states, and under its core principle, an attack on one member is considered an attack on all.

Trump has not ruled out the use of military force to seize Greenland. Asked directly about the possibility, he declined to comment, saying only, “No comment.”

Greenland’s Minister for Industry and Natural Resources, Naaja Nathanielsen, told the BBC that the island’s population was “astonished” by Trump’s claims. “We have made it very clear that we do not want to be American,” she said, questioning how Greenlanders’ culture and right to determine their own future were being valued.

Addressing the Davos forum, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Europe is “fully committed” to security in the Arctic region, stressing that it can only be ensured collectively. She described the potential imposition of additional US tariffs linked to Greenland as a “wrong decision.”

Trump has announced that from 1 February, the United States will impose a 10 percent tariff on all goods from eight European countries if they oppose his Greenland plans. Von der Leyen said the European Union stands in “full solidarity” with Greenland and Denmark, adding that their sovereignty is “not up for discussion.”

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney also reaffirmed his country’s “unwavering” commitment to NATO’s Article 5 and voiced support for Greenland’s right to determine its own future.

Earlier, Trump threatened to impose a 200 percent tariff on French wine and champagne after President Macron declined an invitation to join Trump’s proposed Gaza peace initiative, referred to as a “Board of Peace.” Macron called the threat “unacceptable” and urged countermeasures against US tariff policies. Sources say the European Parliament is also considering suspending approval of a trade deal with the United States that was agreed in July.

The escalating rhetoric has heightened tensions between Washington and its allies, raising concerns about trade retaliation, alliance cohesion, and the future of Arctic security.