By Emmanuel Bobby
Despite public threats about taking control of Greenland — including suggestions that military force could be used — President Donald Trump arrived in Davos on Wednesday seeking to negotiate a deal that would give the United States greater control over security on the island and across the Arctic region, according to a congressional official and two former U.S. officials.
Ahead of Trump’s arrival, senior U.S. officials were dispatched to Davos to lay the groundwork for a potential agreement, the officials said.
Trump’s aggressive pressure campaign had rattled longtime U.S. partners, and his threat to impose tariffs on countries opposing his ambitions for Greenland escalated tensions into a broader transatlantic crisis. That threat was later withdrawn after Trump met with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Wednesday. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he would not proceed with the tariffs and announced that he and Rutte had agreed on a “framework of a future deal” regarding Greenland.
According to the congressional official and one former U.S. official, Trump entered the meeting expecting to announce a broad framework for such a deal. Negotiations remain preliminary, however, and it is unclear whether a final agreement will be reached or what its full scope would be.
Trump has floated the possibility of expanding the U.S. military footprint in Greenland, including adding troops and new bases, particularly to support the Golden Dome missile defense system, the former officials said.
In his address at Davos, Trump said he would not use military force to acquire Greenland — a position he had already privately conveyed to close advisers and allies, according to U.S. and European officials.
“The private signaling to allies was that this wasn’t going to be Venezuela,” a European diplomat said.
The diplomat added that an increased NATO presence in the Arctic would send a stronger message to China and Russia and bolster the Golden Dome missile defense system.
In recent days, some of Trump’s closest advisers worked to dissuade him from pursuing military force, according to current and former officials. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine presented Trump with potential military options and their consequences, after which the president decided against using force, officials said.
A spokesperson for the Joint Staff declined to comment on the specifics of those discussions, noting that the chairman’s role is to provide military advice and a range of options to the president.
U.S. allies within NATO have also urged Trump to reconsider, warning that any attempt to seize Greenland — especially by force — could severely damage long-standing alliances.
Denmark welcomed news of a framework agreement but stressed that its sovereignty is not negotiable. The Danish prime minister reiterated that position Thursday, and a NATO spokesperson emphasized that Rutte did not propose any compromise on sovereignty during his meeting with Trump.
Still, Trump continued to assert sweeping ambitions. On Thursday, he said the U.S. was seeking “total access” to Greenland and would get “everything we want at no cost.”
In an interview with Fox Business Network, Trump said part of the Golden Dome system would be placed on Greenland. “It’s really being negotiated now, the details of it, but essentially it’s total access. There’s no end, there’s no time limit,” he said.
“I’m not gonna have to pay anything. We’re gonna have total access to Greenland. We’re gonna have all military access that we want,” Trump told host Maria Bartiromo. “We’re going to be able to put what we need on Greenland because we want it. We’re talking about national security and international security.”
White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said in a statement that if the deal moves forward, the United States would achieve its strategic goals in Greenland “at very little cost, forever,” adding that Trump was once again proving himself to be “the Dealmaker in Chief.”
Trump previously told reporters he could envision a “reasonable price” for Greenland, though he did not specify a figure. Estimates have put the potential cost as high as $700 billion.
In his Davos speech, Trump framed the issue starkly for European leaders. “We want a piece of ice for world protection, and they won’t give it,” he said. “You can say yes and we will be appreciative. Or, say no and we will remember.”
According to the European diplomat, U.S. allies are now searching for alternatives that could satisfy Trump without transferring ownership of Greenland. “Everyone is looking for an offramp,” the diplomat said, “but I think only President Trump knows what that could be.”
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