On Wednesday, President Donald Trump announced that he and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte have “established the groundwork for a future agreement concerning Greenland.”
Trump stated that, stemming from that dialogue, he would no longer enforce punitive tariffs on various European nations scheduled to commence on February 1.
In a conversation with CNBC’s Joe Kernen shortly after releasing the statement, Trump characterized the Greenland agreement as the “idea of a deal.”
When asked for further details regarding the proposal, Trump remarked, “It’s a bit intricate, but we’ll clarify it eventually.”
He hinted that the framework includes mineral rights for the U.S. and the Trump administration’s suggested “Golden Dome” missile defense initiative.
“They’re going to be included in the Golden Dome, and they’ll also be engaged in mineral rights, as will we,” Trump told Kernen.
When asked to confirm that the tariffs were off the table for next month, Trump replied, “No, we removed that because it appears we have, essentially, the concept of a deal.”
Read Trump’s full statement, which he shared on Truth Social:
Based on a highly productive meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, we have established the groundwork for a future agreement regarding Greenland and, indeed, the entire Arctic Region. This resolution, if finalized, will be significant for the United States of America and all NATO nations. In light of this understanding, I will not be imposing the Tariffs originally scheduled for February 1st. Further discussions are underway concerning The Golden Dome as it relates to Greenland. More information will be provided as discussions advance. Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and others as needed will lead the negotiations — They will report directly to me. Thank you for your attention to this issue!
Stocks surged right after Trump released the news.
The announcement followed a meeting at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where some NATO allies explored a proposal to grant the U.S. control over small sections of Greenland’s territory, The New York Times reported, citing three senior officials familiar with the discussions.
Details about the framework agreement remain vague. When asked for additional information, White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly reiterated Trump’s statement that more details will “continue to be revealed as discussions progress.”
Despite the lack of specifics, the announcement represents a remarkable turn in the ongoing debate over Trump’s persistent attempts to secure Greenland for the U.S.
In recent weeks, the Trump administration has floated the idea of purchasing the island or even using U.S. military to seize it, despite its status as a territory of Denmark, a NATO ally.
Danish and Greenlandic leaders have rebuffed the U.S. requests, asserting that Greenland is not for sale. As tensions escalated, several European NATO countries ramped up their military presence in the region.
Over the weekend, Trump responded by threatening to impose new tariffs on those nations starting at 10% next month, escalating to 25% by June.
During a speech at Davos earlier on Wednesday, Trump outlined his rationale for the U.S. to acquire Greenland based on national security.
His comments, including a call for “immediate negotiations” with Denmark, unsettled some in the audience.
However, Trump also stated that he would not resort to military force to claim the territory, indicating a shift from his earlier position.
Stocks, which had dropped sharply a day before due to Trump’s heightened aggression toward Greenland, quickly recovered.
Later on Wednesday, Trump — who recently remarked that anything less than complete ownership of Greenland was “unacceptable” to him — refrained from confirming whether the new framework included U.S. acquisition of the island.
“It’s a long-term arrangement,” Trump informed CNN after a moment of thought. “It’s the ultimate long-term deal. And I believe it places everyone in a very favorable position.”
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen stated in a post on X, “The day concludes on a better note than it commenced.”
He encouraged all parties to “sit down and determine how we can address American security concerns in the Arctic while acknowledging the established boundaries” set by Denmark.
However, some European leaders warned against premature celebrations.
“It’s encouraging that they are engaged in dialogue,” Germany’s Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil told ZDF television following Trump’s meeting with Rutte.
“But we need to exercise patience and not get our hopes up too early,” Klingbeil cautioned.
