Davos Speech Launches Greenland Negotiation Push President Donald Trump announced at the World Economic Forum that the United States will seek “immediate negotiations” to acquire Greenland, framing the island as part of North America and emphasizing that the U.S. can protect and develop the territory without resorting to force [1][2]. He positioned the proposal as a core national‑security issue, arguing that Greenland’s location strengthens America’s Arctic posture [1]. The statement marks a notable shift from earlier rhetoric that hinted at coercive options [2].

Strategic Value of Greenland Highlighted Greenland hosts the U.S. Space Force’s Pituffik Space Base, which operates missile‑warning and space‑surveillance systems critical to Arctic defense [1]. As Arctic ice recedes, Russia and China are expanding polar ambitions, making Greenland increasingly central to high‑north security calculations [1]. The island’s strategic assets underpin Trump’s claim that U.S. control would enhance continental defense and deter rival powers [1].

NATO and Danish Allies Express Deep Concern Denmark, whose sovereign authority includes the semi‑autonomous Greenland, and NATO officials warned that any aggressive move could fracture alliance cohesion [2]. NATO representatives stressed that an attack on Greenland would effectively end the alliance, underscoring the diplomatic stakes [2]. Lawmakers in the United States and Europe debated tariff implications and alliance unity in response to the proposal [1].

Discrepancy Over Use of Force While Trump publicly insisted that the United States does not intend to use force, the White House declined to rule out a military option, a stance that would contravene international law [2]. This mixed messaging creates uncertainty about the administration’s true policy limits and fuels further skepticism among allies [2]. The contrast between diplomatic overtures and the open‑ended force disclaimer highlights internal tensions within the U.S. approach to Arctic expansion [2].