Trump drops threat to impose tariffs on NATO allies over Greenland

President Donald Trump says he no longer plans to impose tariffs on European countries that oppose the U.S. acquisition of Greenland.

Trump said in a social media post that his decision came after a “very productive meeting” with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.

“This settlement, if completed, would be a great solution for the United States of America and all NATO nations,” he wrote.

Trump told CNBC he said the deal would last “forever” and could involve mineral rights and planned projects Golden Summit Missile Defense System.

Announcing his decision on the Truth Society, Trump said more information would be provided “as discussions progress.”

He added that Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff will “report directly to him” as negotiations proceed. No further details were provided.

Trump has previously dismissed the idea of ​​a lease agreement, saying, “You defend ownership. You don’t defend leases.”

It’s unclear what role rare earth minerals could play. Greenland has vast and largely untapped deposits of rare earth minerals, many of which are vital to technologies such as mobile phones and electric cars.

Globally, the Arctic has the eighth-largest reserves of Earth’s minerals, according to a recent analysis by the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.

Trump has said he plans to impose 10% tariffs on “all goods” shipped from Britain to the United States from February 1, increasing to 25% from June 1 until Washington reaches a deal to buy Greenland from Denmark.

The same applies to goods from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Finland – all members of NATO, the defense alliance founded in 1949.

Speaking earlier at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Trump said he was “pursuing immediate negotiations” to acquire Greenland but insisted he would “not use force” to take over the territory.

“Unless I decide to use excessive force, we may get nothing. We are unstoppable, but we are not going to do that,” Trump said on Wednesday. “I don’t have to use force. I don’t want to use force. I won’t use force.”

He also urged world leaders to allow the United States to take control of Greenland from Denmark, saying: “You can say yes and we will be very grateful. Or you can say no and we will remember.”

Under an existing agreement with Denmark, the United States has the right to send as many troops as possible to Greenland. It already has more than 100 military personnel permanently stationed at the Pitufik base in the territory’s northwest tip.

But Trump said in his speech that he would not accept any agreement on U.S. use of Greenland that did not include full ownership.

“Psychologically, who wants to defend a license agreement or a lease?” he said.

“(Greenland) is a big chunk of ice in the middle of the ocean, and if there’s a war, most of the action will take place on that ice.”

French President Emmanuel Macron criticized Trump’s previous tariff threats in a speech in Davos, calling the United States’ “endless new tariffs” “fundamentally unacceptable.”

Macron is among those urging the EU to consider retaliatory options in response to U.S. tariffs.

Trump used his speech to take aim at Macron. He said he had warned he needed to raise drug prices but the French president refused to do so until he threatened to impose “100% tariffs” on wine and champagne.

He added that France had been “screwing up” the United States for decades.

Trump also appeared to brush off comments from Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. On Tuesday, Carney urged “middle powers” to unite, adding: “If we’re not at the table, we’re on the menu.”

Middle powers such as Canada, Australia, Argentina, South Korea, and Brazil exert considerable influence in global politics despite their smaller economies.

He also said that “Canada was one of the first countries to hear the alarm” that geographical and historical alliances no longer guaranteed security or prosperity.

In response, the US president accused Carney of being ungrateful to the United States.

“Canada exists because of the United States,” Trump said. “Remember that, Mark, the next time you make a statement.”