‘Part of a Negotiation’: Trump Advisors Seek To Calm European Leaders Over President’s Greenland Statements

Latest Developments 

• Advisors Seek To Alleviate International Concerns: Advisors to President Donald Trump on January 20 sounded a more conciliatory note amid the escalating dispute between Washington and European capitals over the U.S. leader’s determination to acquire control of Greenland from NATO ally Denmark. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Gary Cohn, a former advisor to Trump and current vice-chairman of IBM, assured delegates that “Greenland will stay Greenland,” opining that Trump’s recent threats may be “part of a negotiation” to increase the U.S. military presence in the Arctic territory. “Maybe what he actually wants is a larger military presence and an offtake,” Cohn said. Separately, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent urged world leaders to “sit back, take a deep breath and let things play out,” at the same time warning that “the worst thing countries can do is escalate against the United States.”
• Trump’s Provocative Messages: In a series of provocative social media posts on January 20, Trump reasserted his demands for the United States to take control of Greenland. Trump criticized the United Kingdom’s transfer of sovereignty over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius — including the island of Diego Garcia, where the United Kingdom and the United States operate a joint military base — as an “act of total weakness” and “great stupidity,” adding that it underlined why the United States must acquire Greenland for “national security” reasons. In another post, Trump revealed that he spoke with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte on the topic of Greenland, saying, “Greenland is imperative for National and World Security. There can be no going back — On that, everyone agrees!” 
• European Leaders Rattled by Trump Comments: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that Trump’s threat to impose a 10 percent import tax on European nations that support Denmark’s sovereignty over Greenland violates the trade deal agreed between the United States and the European Union in July. “Plunging us into a downward spiral would only aid the very adversaries we are both so committed to keeping out of the strategic landscape,” she said. French President Emmanuel Macron stated that the European Union could be forced to deploy its most powerful economic coercion tool, known as the “trade bazooka,” which includes sanctions on individuals or institutions found to be exerting undue pressure on the European Union.

FDD Expert Response

“President Trump is correct that Greenland is essential for America’s national security, and that of the West. Denmark and other NATO members agree with him. Many problems and conflicts cannot be solved through diplomacy, negotiation, and deal-making. This one can and should be.” — Clifford D. May, Founder and President

“President Trump’s rhetoric and threats towards Denmark are misplaced and unhelpful. Greenland has been an important part of U.S. defense planning for more than seven decades. It serves as an excellent location for positioning early warning radars to detect Russian threats to North America.  Denmark has always accommodated U.S. requests for force posture and been a fantastic host nation for U.S. forces — even after we ‘lost’ a nuclear bomb in their ice shelf.” — RADM (Ret.) Mark Montgomery, Senior Fellow and Senior Director of FDD’s Center on Cyber and Technology

“The fundamental question is why Greenland matters. The Arctic is opening, and China is positioning itself across the region — bankrolling Russia’s northern energy infrastructure while expanding its footprint in Canada. America’s allies can be forgiven for reacting sharply to the administration’s rhetoric, but Washington’s interest in the Arctic should be the start of a NATO-centric solution. The United States and its allies should work together to address growing Russian and Chinese cooperation in our collective backyard.” — Elaine Dezenski, Senior Director and Head of FDD’s Center on Economic and Financial Power

FDD Background and Analysis

“Great power competition heats up in the thawing Arctic, and the US must respond,” by Bradley Bowman and Maj. Scott D. Adamson

“Russia is using Trump’s Greenland rhetoric to boost its Crimea claims,” by Ivana Stradner and Marina Chernin

“U.S. Sanctions Impede Russia’s Arctic LNG Ambitions,” by Max Meizlish