DAVOS, Switzerland — January 21, 2026
US President Donald Trump is expected to intensify his controversial push to acquire Greenland as he attends the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, confronting stiff opposition from European allies in what analysts describe as the most serious strain on transatlantic relations in decades.
Trump, who marked the end of a turbulent first year of his new term on Tuesday, is set to dominate discussions at the annual gathering of global political and business leaders. Speaking at a news conference before arriving in Davos, the US president said he planned to hold meetings on Greenland and expressed confidence that a deal could eventually be reached.
“I think we will work something out where NATO is going to be very happy and where we’re going to be very happy. But we need it for security purposes. We need it for national security,” Trump said.
NATO and Europe Push Back
Trump’s renewed focus on Greenland has alarmed NATO leaders, who have warned that his approach could destabilise the alliance. Greenland is an autonomous territory of Denmark, and both Danish and Greenlandic leaders have repeatedly stated that the island is not for sale.
Nevertheless, Copenhagen and Nuuk have offered to deepen cooperation with Washington, including allowing an expanded US military presence on the strategically located Arctic territory, home to about 57,000 people.
When asked how far he was prepared to go to secure Greenland, Trump replied cryptically: “You’ll find out.” He has also linked the issue to his long-standing frustration over not receiving a Nobel Peace Prize.
“Denmark Is Irrelevant,” Says US Treasury Secretary
Tensions escalated further when US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent dismissed Denmark’s importance during remarks in Davos.
“Denmark’s investment in the U.S. Treasury bonds, like Denmark itself, is irrelevant,” Bessent said when asked whether the dispute could prompt European investors to sell US government debt.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte declined to directly address the political row but acknowledged growing strategic competition in the Arctic.
“President Trump and other leaders are right. We have to do more there. We have to protect the Arctic against Russian and Chinese influence,” Rutte said, adding that NATO was working collectively to defend the region.
Russia has dismissed claims that it poses a threat around Greenland as exaggerated, while analysts note there is little evidence of significant Chinese or Russian shipping activity near the island.
Military Options Not Ruled Out
Trump has been unrelenting in portraying Greenland as a vital Arctic guardpost against Russia and China and has threatened a trade war with European countries that oppose his ambitions. He has also not ruled out the use of US military force to seize the territory, which already hosts an American military base.
Sources previously told Reuters that Trump’s Greenland drive is partly motivated by a desire to secure a historic legacy by expanding US territory on a scale not seen since Alaska and Hawaii became states in 1959.
In an unusual diplomatic move, Trump also published a private message from French President Emmanuel Macron, in which Macron urged him to attend a post-Davos meeting in Paris with other G7 leaders. Trump rejected the idea. Macron later said France had requested a NATO exercise in Greenland and was prepared to contribute.
Other Davos Agenda Items
While Greenland has dominated headlines, Trump is also expected to use his Davos keynote address to promote the strength of the US economy. The White House said he would unveil a housing plan allowing Americans to use 401(k) retirement savings for home down payments.
Trump is also scheduled to meet the leaders of Switzerland, Poland, and Egypt, and to preside over a ceremony linked to the Board of Peace, a group he established to support redevelopment efforts in Gaza.
The president is due to return to Washington late Thursday, but his Greenland ambitions are likely to continue reverberating well beyond Davos.
