Trump Backtracks on Greenland: Cancels Tariffs on European Allies, Explains Reason

Washington/Davos: U.S. President Donald Trump has signaled a major shift in his stance on Greenland. After previously hinting at military action and threatening tariffs on European allies, Trump has now reversed course, calling off the proposed tariffs.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump emphasized that while he remains interested in Greenland, he will not use military force to acquire it. Hours later, following a meeting with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, he announced that the tariffs scheduled to take effect on February 1 would no longer be implemented.

Tariff Decision Reversed
Trump wrote on Truth Social that his discussion with NATO Chief Jens Stoltenberg was “very productive” and helped establish a framework for future agreements regarding Greenland and the Arctic region. He added that the proposed framework would benefit both the U.S. and its NATO allies, prompting him to withdraw the tariff plan.

Ongoing Greenland Negotiations
Trump also stated that talks on the “Golden Dome” issue related to Greenland are ongoing. The negotiations are being led by Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and special envoy Steve Whitcoff, with other officials joining as needed and reporting directly to the president.

Trump Pulls Back on Military Options
Earlier, at the World Economic Forum, Trump appeared to step back from his previous rhetoric about using force in Greenland. He reiterated that while the territory—a “cold, frozen, and remote piece of land”—has strategic significance for global peace and security, he does not intend to employ military power.

He explained, “Perhaps we won’t achieve anything unless I decide to use a lot of force, where we would be truly unbeatable. But I won’t do that. I don’t need to use force.”