US President Donald Trump said in a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos that he wants to buy Greenland through immediate negotiations and emphasized that the USA would not use force.
Trump stated that the initiative is driven only by national security interests and dismissed rare earth metals as a motivation.
Trump refers to Greenland as a security concern
In an appearance that was closely followed, Trump gave a well-known speech to the participants at the World Economic Forum. He spoke without notes and mostly unscripted, adhering to his characteristic speaking style.
About twenty minutes into the speech, Trump addressed one of the forum's most anticipated topics: Greenland.
After expressing respect for Greenland and Denmark, Trump stated that the USA was the only NATO ally that could guarantee Greenland's security.
'Only the USA can protect this massive ice piece,' he said.
He then called for immediate negotiations to purchase the territory and reiterated that the USA would not use force — a statement that contrasted with previous comments where the use of force had not been ruled out.
'We want an ice piece for the protection of the world. You can say yes, and we will greatly appreciate it. You can say it, and we will remember,' he added.
Trump also dismissed that he was interested in rare earth minerals. Instead, he stated that the motivation behind the initiative was solely 'strategic national and international security.'
He went on to talk about nuclear war and missile capacity, referencing increasing global geopolitical tensions that he described as unprecedented, while hinting at perceived threats from Russia and China.
Trump also reiterated his critical stance towards NATO. The US president claimed that if he had been president in 2022, he would have prevented Russia's invasion of Ukraine. He repeated his earlier statements that the 2020 election, which he lost, was rigged.
He also addressed several other important topics.
The Greenland conflict expands into broader criticism.
On Tuesday, Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney delivered a sharp speech in which he criticized Trump's handling of the Greenland issue.
Trump responded to these comments during his own speech on Wednesday and addressed Carney directly.
'Canada exists because of the USA. Remember that, Mark, next time you speak out,' Trump said.
Trump also took the opportunity to highlight what he described as the USA's strong results under his leadership.
He opened the speech by emphasizing the strength of the US economy during his term. He also drew a contrast to the Biden administration.
Trump then shifted to criticize Europe's political leadership, describing it as a 'failed model.' Among the arguments, Trump pointed out large-scale migration, budget and trade deficits, and inflation.
Trump also referred to Venezuela, claiming that the USA had helped the country after taking power from Nicolás Maduro and securing oil deals with the government. He also praised the current leadership under Delcy Rodríguez for good cooperation skills.
'Venezuela will earn more money in the next six months than it has in the last 20 years,' he said.
Later, Trump shifted focus to the energy sector and oil consumption, where he criticized European countries' prioritization of environmental sustainability, labeling the movement as a 'green new scam.'