Trump Renews Greenland Bid in Combative Davos Keynote, Rules Out ‘Force’

DAVOS, Switzerland — President Donald Trump delivered a defiant keynote address at the World Economic Forum on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, reasserting his demand that the United States acquire Greenland. While the President’s rhetoric remained aggressive toward European allies, he made his most explicit commitment yet to avoid military action, stating repeatedly that he "won't use force" to secure the Arctic territory.

"That's Our Territory"

Addressing a room of global leaders and business executives, Trump framed the acquisition of the semi-autonomous Danish territory as a matter of urgent national and hemispheric security. He argued that Greenland is geographically part of North America and therefore belongs under U.S. jurisdiction.

"This enormous unsecured island is actually part of North America, on the northern frontier of the Western Hemisphere," Trump declared. "That’s our territory."

He dismissed current arrangements, such as leases or license agreements for military bases, as insufficient for long-term protection. "Who the hell wants to defend a license agreement or a lease? You need the ownership to defend it," he said, calling for "immediate negotiations" to discuss the transfer of "right, title, and ownership."

Softening the Military Threat

The most significant development of the speech was Trump’s attempt to de-escalate fears of a kinetic conflict within NATO. For weeks, the administration had declined to rule out military options, but in Davos, Trump sought to clarify his stance.

"We probably won't get anything unless I decide to use excessive strength and force, where we would be, frankly, unstoppable," Trump said. "But I won’t do that. I don’t have to use force. I don’t want to use force. I won’t use force."

Despite this assurance, he maintained a transactional tone, warning that non-compliance would have diplomatic and economic consequences. "You can say yes and we will be very appreciative, or you can say no and we will remember."

Friction with Allies

The speech deepened the rift between Washington and its European partners. Prior to the address, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron expressed firm opposition to the plan. Trump, in turn, lambasted Denmark as "ungrateful," citing U.S. protection during World War II.

"Denmark fell to Germany after just six hours of fighting," Trump remarked. "We fought to keep [Greenland] in our hemisphere, and after the war... we gave it back. How stupid were we to do that? But we did it. And how ungrateful are they now?"

Key points from the diplomatic fallout included:

• Tariff Threats: Trump reiterated his plan to impose a 10% import tax on eight European nations—including Denmark, France, and the UK—starting in February if they continue to block the Greenland deal.

• NATO Tensions: While Trump praised NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, he claimed the alliance had treated the U.S. "very unfairly" and insisted that U.S. ownership of Greenland would actually enhance NATO's security.

• Nobel Snub: Recent reports suggested Trump’s aggressive push was partly influenced by his failure to receive the Nobel Peace Prize last year, a sentiment he reportedly shared in text messages with Norway’s Prime Minister.

Market and Economic Reaction

U.S. markets reportedly saw a modest rise following the speech, as investors reacted with relief to the ruling out of military force, which many feared could have triggered a global conflict. However, economists warned that the looming "Greenland Tariffs" could significantly disrupt trade truces and worsen housing affordability by driving up interest rates.

Notable Gaffes

Observers noted that the President appeared to confuse Greenland and Iceland several times during the address. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt later defended the remarks, claiming the President was simply referring to Greenland as a "piece of ice."

Conclusion

President Trump’s Davos appearance confirmed that the pursuit of Greenland is a cornerstone of his second-term foreign policy. By taking the military option off the table but keeping the "economic bazooka" of tariffs in play, the administration has signaled it intends to use maximum economic pressure to redraw the map of the Arctic.