US President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that a framework agreement had been reached with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte to negotiate the future of Greenland and the Arctic region.
The US president indicated that, thanks to this understanding, he would suspend the application of tariffs that were scheduled to take effect on February 1 and that would affect European allies.
US President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that a framework agreement had been reached with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte to negotiate the future of Greenland and the Arctic region.
“We have formed the framework of a future agreement regarding Greenland and, in fact, the entire Arctic region. This solution, if implemented, will be very beneficial for the United States of America and for all NATO countries,” Trump said.
The Republican president explained that, based on this understanding, “the tariffs that were scheduled for February 1 will not be imposed.”
The announcement marks a new chapter in Washington's strategy towards the Arctic, a region of global competition due to its mineral resources and its strategic value in relation to Russia and China.
The United States has insisted in recent months on the need to secure a strong presence in Greenland, an autonomous island under Danish sovereignty, to protect American and NATO interests in the far north.
In his speech in Davos, Trump ruled out for the first time the use of force to acquire Greenland, but insisted that the United States would seek “immediate negotiations” to discuss its acquisition.
“I don't have to use force. I don't want to use force. I'm not going to use force. All the United States is asking for is a place called Greenland,” he declared.
Trump asserted that the goal is to secure a “cold, poorly located block of ice” that, according to him, “can play a vital role in world peace and the protection of the world.” He also noted that the United States is holding additional talks regarding the "Golden Dome" missile defense system in relation to Greenland, although he did not offer details about the content of those negotiations.
He added that Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff will be in charge of future discussions and will report directly to him.
The preliminary agreement was welcomed by financial markets, which reacted with gains following Trump's speech and the announcement on Truth Social. However, reactions from Europe have been more cautious.
Denmark, which maintains sovereignty over Greenland, rejected the possibility of negotiating the sale of the island, while the European Parliament halted the ratification of the trade agreement with Washington in response to the tariff threats.
Mark Rutte, NATO Secretary General, acknowledged in Davos that he is trying to de-escalate tensions with the United States over Greenland and the Arctic, and defended the importance of maintaining transatlantic cooperation on security matters. The European Union, for its part, has reiterated that any negotiations regarding the future of Greenland must respect Danish sovereignty and the principles of international law.
Trump's announcement comes in a context of growing international interest in the Arctic, where melting ice has opened new trade routes and increased competition for natural resources.
The United States considers a strong presence in Greenland essential to counter the influence of Moscow and Beijing in the region.
Meanwhile, the international community awaits concrete details about the framework of the agreement and the specifics of the "Golden Dome" defense system.
Trump concluded his remarks by assuring that more details will be released as negotiations progress and thanked the international community for its attention to the matter.
(With information from EFE and AFP)
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