Davos (Web Desk/Agencies): United States (US) President Donald Trump on Wednesday insisted that only the US, which he described as a global “great power,” has the capacity to protect Greenland, while underscoring America’s role as the backbone of the world economy.
As European allies continue to resist Washington’s interest in the Arctic island, Trump criticised Europe’s current path, saying it was “not heading in the right direction.”
Addressing the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, where the Greenland issue has taken centre stage, Trump highlighted what he called America’s unmatched economic influence.
“The USA is the economic engine on the planet. And when America booms, the entire world booms. It's been the history,” he told the audience.
Commenting on Europe, the US president said parts of the continent had become “not recognizable.” While expressing fondness for Europe, he added, “I love Europe, and I want to see Europe go good, but it's not heading in the right direction.”
Trump is expected to ramp up his efforts to acquire Greenland during his visit to Davos, a move that has provoked strong opposition from European leaders and sparked concern over growing tensions within the Nato alliance.
The president, who completed his first year in office on Tuesday, is set to dominate discussions at the annual gathering of global leaders focused on economic and political challenges.
Speaking at a news conference, Trump said he planned to hold meetings in Davos related to the Danish territory and voiced confidence that a deal could eventually be reached.
He suggested that any arrangement would satisfy both Washington and Nato. “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,” he said.
Nato officials have warned that Trump’s approach towards Greenland risks unsettling the alliance, even as Denmark and Greenland have floated proposals to allow greater US military access to the strategically important Arctic region, which has a population of about 57,000.
When asked how far he was willing to go to secure Greenland, Trump offered an ambiguous reply, saying, “You’ll find out.”
He has repeatedly described the island as a vital Arctic stronghold to counter Russian and Chinese influence, though Moscow has dismissed such claims as exaggerated.
Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte avoided commenting directly on the dispute but acknowledged that strategic rivalry in the Arctic was intensifying.
Speaking during a panel discussion in Davos, he said, “President Trump and other leaders are right. We have to do more there. We have to protect the Arctic against Russian and Chinese influence.”
Despite Trump’s assertions, there is little evidence to suggest significant Chinese or Russian maritime activity near Greenland’s coastline. Russia has argued that such claims are being used to “whip up hysteria.”
Sources familiar with the issue have previously told Reuters that Trump’s interest in Greenland is also driven by a desire to cement a historic legacy, potentially expanding US territory on a scale not seen since Alaska and Hawaii became states in 1959.
In a rare break from diplomatic convention, Trump publicly released the text of a private message from French President Emmanuel Macron, who questioned his actions and urged him to meet G7 leaders in Paris after Davos. “I do not understand what you are doing on Greenland,” Macron wrote.
France later said it had proposed holding a Nato military exercise in Greenland, while Denmark declined to comment on reports that it may deploy up to 1,000 troops to the territory in 2026.
Trump’s official reason for attending Davos is to promote what he describes as strong US economic performance.
A White House official said, “President Trump will unveil initiatives to drive down housing costs, tout his economic agenda that has propelled the US to lead the world in economic growth.”
During his stay in Davos, Trump is also expected to hold bilateral meetings with the leaders of Switzerland, Poland and Egypt.
On Thursday, he is due to preside over a ceremony linked to the Board of Peace, an initiative he launched to oversee reconstruction efforts in Gaza following a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Trump has suggested the body could eventually take on a broader global role, raising concerns among diplomats about possible overlap with the United Nations.
While expressing a generally positive view of the UN, Trump said he believed the organisation had “never lived up to its potential.”
Trump’s trip briefly encountered a setback on Tuesday night when Air Force One was forced to return to Joint Base Andrews shortly after takeoff due to what the White House described as a “minor electrical issue.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the aircraft landed safely and that the journey would continue on another plane. No injuries were reported, and officials said the issue posed no immediate risk, noting that while rare, similar incidents have occurred on flights carrying former presidents and vice presidents.