Trump rules out using force on Greenland but calls for ‘immediate negotiations’

Donald Trump ruled out using force to acquire Greenland as he called for immediate negotiations over his desire to purchase the island.

“People thought I would use force. I don’t have to use force. I don’t want to use force. I won’t use force,” Trump said in a highly anticipated address to the World Economic Forum.

The US president said he was “seeking immediate negotiations” to discuss the acquisition of Greenland, “just as we have acquired many other territories throughout our history”.

He added that the “enormous unsecured island” was part of North America and that an acquisition by the US should not be viewed as a threat to Nato.

Referring to his demands that Denmark cede its rights over the autonomous territory, Trump said: “We want a piece of ice for world protection, and they won’t give it . . . They have a choice. You can say yes and we will be very appreciative, or you can say no and we will remember.”

Denmark and Greenland have repeatedly said that the island is not for sale, since Trump first expressed his interest in 2019

Markets clawed back part of this week’s heavy losses following Trump’s comments on Greenland.

The S&P 500 rose 0.7 per cent in New York, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite was up 0.8 per cent. The Stoxx Europe 600 reversed earlier declines to trade flat.

During his speech, Trump appeared to acknowledge the negative market reaction to the transatlantic tensions inflamed by his pursuit of Greenland.

In comments that confused Greenland and Iceland, he said: “Our stock market took the first dip yesterday because of Iceland, so Iceland’s already cost us a lot of money.”

But he added that the shift was “peanuts” compared to past rises and that the stock market had an “unbelievable future”.

European governments have not yet decided whether or how to retaliate against Trump’s threat to impose 10 per cent tariffs on eight European states that recently sent military personnel to the Arctic territory.

But simmering tensions have been evident in Davos. On Tuesday night, US commerce secretary Howard Lutnick was heckled at a dinner after making combative comments that led multiple guests to walk out.

Among those leaving early were European Central Bank president Christine Lagarde, according to people familiar with the matter.

In his speech on Wednesday, the US president took a series of jabs at allies, saying that “certain places in Europe are not even recognisable, frankly, any more, they’re not recognisable”.

“I love Europe . . . but it’s not heading in the right direction,” he added.

Before setting off from the US, Trump said “there can be no going back” on his plan to seize Greenland from Denmark. Asked how far he would be willing to go in his pursuit of the Arctic island, the US president said: “You’ll find out.”