Trump & Greenland: Tariffs Lifted, Negotiations Resume

“Very productive” after meeting with NATO Secretary-General
Previously, a line was drawn against forced annexation through military force.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on the 21st (local time) that he would withdraw additional tariffs that he had announced to impose on eight European countries that had dispatched troops to Greenland, a Danish territory. President Trump, who repeatedly revealed his ambition to annex Greenland in a special speech at the World Economic Forum (WEF) held in Davos, Switzerland and criticized Europe for opposing it, made this decision after meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.

President Trump said on his TruthSocial that day, “Based on a very productive meeting (with Secretary-General Rutte), we have established a framework for future negotiations regarding Greenland and the entire Arctic region.” “If this solution is realized, it will be very beneficial to the United States and all NATO members,” he said. “Based on this agreement, we have decided not to impose tariffs that were scheduled to take effect on February 1.” On the 17th, President Trump mentioned Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Finland, which have dispatched troops to Greenland, and announced retaliatory tariffs by saying, “Starting February 1st, these countries will be subject to a 10% tariff on all products exported to the United States, and the tariff will increase to 25% on June 1st.”

President Trump explained, “Additional discussions are underway regarding the ‘golden dome’ related to Greenland,” adding, “Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and other various figures will be in charge of negotiations as needed.” However, President Trump did not specify in detail what the ‘negotiation framework’ prepared that day was. Golden Dome is a space-based missile defense network to defend the entire United States from attacks by potential hostile countries such as China and Russia. President Trump has repeatedly emphasized his intention to annex Greenland, saying, “Greenland is essential to building a ‘Golden Dome.’” The argument was that if the United States did not secure Greenland, Russia or China could take it, and if so, it would affect security.

In a special speech before his meeting with Secretary-General Rutte, President Trump expressed his dissatisfaction with Europe, which is opposing the annexation of Greenland, saying, “I love Europe, but some countries are going in a less positive direction.” However, he made it clear that he would not use military force to force annexation. President Trump emphasized, “There is no need to use force, and I do not want to use it.” After President Trump announced that he would not use force, the New York stock market rebounded. On the same day, on the New York Stock Exchange, the S&P 500 index closed at 6875.62, up 1.16% from the previous day. The Nasdaq index closed at 23,224.82, up 1.18%.