Trump says ‘no comment’ when asked if he would seize Greenland by force – as it happened

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Beijing has urged the US to stop using the “so-called ‘China threat’” as a justification for imposing tariffs on European countries which have opposed Trump’s plan to acquire Greenland.

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MPs in the UK’s House of Commons have called for a boycott of the World Cup this summer in response to Trump’s plans to annex Greenland.

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Making tariff threats is “no way to treat allies”, the UK’s foreign secretary Yvette Cooper has said.

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Denmark has proposed that Nato start surveillance operations in Greenland, with the support of the Arctic island. Nato chief Mark Rutte took note of this, Danish defence minister Troels Lund Poulsen said.

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In a brief telephone interview with NBC News, Donald Trump declined to rule out seizing Greenland by force – “No comment,” he told the broadcaster – but insisted that he would “100%” push ahead with his plans to hit European nations with tariffs if he doesn’t get Greenland.

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The US president’s comments come after he sent a letter to Norway’s prime minister Jonas Gahr Støre telling him that “considering your country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace.”

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Leaders across Europe have been weighing in on both the issue of Greenland and the threat of tariffs from the US, with some like Roland Lescure, France’s finance and economic minister, warning that Europe “has to step up” and respond to Trump’s tariff threats while Simon Harris, Ireland’s deputy prime minister and finance minister, called for “cool heads”.

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Keir Starmer, the prime minister of the United Kingdom, held a press conference criticising Trump’s punitive tariff plan as “completely wrong” and maintained that “any decision on Greenland belongs to people of Greenland and Denmark alone” – but stopped short of committing to any form of retaliation against US tariffs. Meanwhile, France’s Emmanuel Macron said no amount of intimidation would work, while the Swedish prime minister Ulf Kristersson warned the EU would not be “blackmailed” and the Norwegian prime minister Jonas Gahr Støre warned that “threats have no place among allies”. German chancellor Friedrich Merz said the focus was on trying to talk Trump out of imposing tariffs over Greenland – but also said that it was important for European Nato allies to do more to safeguard the region.

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EU leaders called for calm on all sides as they attempt to work among themselves – and with the White House – to avoid full-on trade war. European Commission’s trade spokesperson Olof Gill told reporters on Monday that leaders want to resolve the crisis through talks as soon as possible. But “should the threatened tariffs be imposed, the European Union has tools at its disposal and is prepared to respond because we will do everything necessary to protect EU’s economic interests,” Gill added.

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Thanks for following the blog with me, Donna Ferguson. Goodnight.

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Denmark is proposing that Nato start surveillance operations in Greenland, with the support of the Arctic island, Danish defence minister Troels Lund Poulsen said Monday after meeting Nato’s chief Mark Rutte.

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“We have proposed it, the secretary general has taken note of that, and I think we can now – we hope – define a framework on how that can be concretised,” Poulsen told Danish television.

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Donald Trump has put the transatlantic alliance to the test with threats to take over Greenland “one way or the other”, as European countries close ranks against Washington’s designs on the vast Danish autonomous territory.

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German and French leaders denounced as “blackmail” weekend threats by Trump to wield new tariffs against countries which oppose his plans for the Arctic island.

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Rutte wrote on X that he had discussed “how important the Arctic – including Greenland – is to our collective security” with the Danish minister and Greenland’s top diplomat.

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“We’ll continue to work together as Allies on these important issues,” he wrote.

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Sweden’s defence minister Pål Jonson suggested a NATO mission “could be a way forward” as Trump insists more must be done to ward off the threat of China and Russia to Greenland.

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“We are seeing what is the most constructive way that we could contribute to this endeavor of strengthening the alliance footprint in the High North,” he said after a meeting of Nordic ministers at NATO headquarters in Brussels.

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  In a brief telephone interview with NBC News, Donald Trump declined to rule out seizing Greenland by force – “No comment,” he told the broadcaster – but insisted that he would “100%” push ahead with his plans to hit European nations with tariffs if he doesn’t get Greenland.

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  The US president’s comments come after he sent a letter to Norway’s prime minister Jonas Gahr Støre telling him that “considering your country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace.”

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  Leaders across Europe have been weighing in on both the issue of Greenland and the threat of tariffs from the US, with some like Roland Lescure, France’s finance and economic minister, warning that Europe “has to step up” and respond to Trump’s tariff threats while Simon Harris, Ireland’s deputy prime minister and finance minister, called for “cool heads”.

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  Keir Starmer, the prime minister of the United Kingdom, held a press conference criticising Trump’s punitive tariff plan as “completely wrong” and maintained that “any decision on Greenland belongs to people of Greenland and Denmark alone” – but stopped short of committing to any form of retaliation against US tariffs. Meanwhile, France’s Emmanuel Macron said no amount of intimidation would work, while the Swedish prime minister Ulf Kristersson warned the EU would not be “blackmailed” and the Norwegian prime minister Jonas Gahr Støre warned that “threats have no place among allies”. German chancellor Friedrich Merz said the focus was on trying to talk Trump out of imposing tariffs over Greenland – but also said that it was important for European Nato allies to do more to safeguard the region.

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  EU leaders called for calm on all sides as they attempt to work among themselves – and with the White House – to avoid full-on trade war. European Commission’s trade spokesperson Olof Gill told reporters on Monday that leaders want to resolve the crisis through talks as soon as possible. But “should the threatened tariffs be imposed, the European Union has tools at its disposal and is prepared to respond because we will do everything necessary to protect EU’s economic interests,” Gill added.

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  Trump is scheduled to speak Wednesday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where US treasury secretary Scott Bessent on Monday warned that “everyone should be taking the president at his word.”

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  Amidst all the chatter, several Danish media are reporting plans to ramp up the Danish military presence in Greenland in the coming hours. Danish foreign minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen was in London to meet with his UK counterpart, Yvette Cooper, while the Danish defence minister, Troels Lund Poulsen, and Greenlandic foreign affairs minister, Vivian Motzfeldt, met with Mark Rutte, the secretary general of Nato, and discussed a possible Nato surveillance mission for Greenland.

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Danish foreign minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen is now briefing journalists after his meeting with his UK counterpart, Yvette Cooper.

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He repeats his earlier line that he wanted to thank the UK for its support on Greenland.

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He also stresses that Denmark and Greenland have agreed to form a working group with the US to talk through their differences just last week, which is now being contradicted by the US rhetoric.

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In his initial omments in Danish, reported by broadcaster DR, he says that not sending a strong signal in response would risk showing weakeness to the US.

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“It is important that all of us who believe in international law speak out to show Trump that you can’t go down this road any further,” he says.

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When he turns to English, he thanks the UK prime minister Keir Starmer for his comments earlier today, and “arguing that there are principles in life” and Britain’s leadership on this issue, “particularly after Brexit.”

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He says he is confident the UK will stand by Denmark, and feels further reassured by that after the closed meeting he just had with foreign secretary Cooper.

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He then comes back to the US talks last week as he says he thought Denmark, Greenland and the US agreed to “move this from social media, Truth Social and other arenas, into a meeting room where we could discuss” possible solutions, building on their relationship.

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“That’s what we agreed,” he says, adding “we are pragmatic, cold-blooded Scandinavian people.”

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“For second I thought that we managed maybe not to solve the problem, but to find a path forward. It was disrupted by the statement from the president,” he says.

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He says that’s why it’s now important for the EU and allies to “stand up for these principles [of territorial integrity and sovereignty] to show the American president that you [may] have a desire, a vision, … but you will never be able to achieve that by putting pressure on us.”

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He says he has no intention to escalate things, but is “surprised” by the latest events, also briefly mentioning the Danish-US bilateral history, including the Danish deployment to Afghanistan during the US war on terror.

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In a brief telephone interview with NBC News, Donald Trump declined to rule out seizing Greenland by force.

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“No comment,” he told the broadcaster.

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He insisted that he would “100%” push ahead with his plans to hit European nations with tariffs if he doesn’t get Greenland.

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Separately, he repeated his frustration with Norway over the Nobel peace prize, saying “Norway totally controls it despite what they say. They like to say they have nothing to do with it, but they have everything thing to do with it,” he added.

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Trump also expressed his frustration with European leaders focusing on Greenland, saying:

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“Europe ought to focus on the war with Russia and Ukraine, because, frankly, you see what that’s gotten, them. That’s what Europe should focus on – not Greenland.”

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Since Bessent mentioned it just now: Trump is expected to speak at Davos at 2.30pm local time on Wednesday (1.30pm UK), so make sure you save the date.

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Judging by the last few days, it’s likely to be pretty explosive.

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But be assured: I will obviously bring you all the key lines here on Europe Live on Wednesday.

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US treasury secretary Scott Bessent has just been speaking to reporters in Davos, where the World Economic Forum is about to get under way.

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Sporting a scarf with a US flag on it, he says the US focus was on sending a clear message that “America first doesn’t mean America alone” and “president Trump will be talking about this, what American leadership in the world looks like.”

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He says the focus will be on “pushing for growth and deregulation.”

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On Greenland, he says he’s not up to date as he’s been travelling, but “there are lot of inbound” calls and he says “everyone should be taking the president at his word.”

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He says he knows nothing about Trump’s letter to Norway’s Støre (9:45, 13:27) , but he says it’s “an absolute canard” to suggest the president was deciding on Greenland’s future “because of the Nobel prize.”

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“The president is looking at Greenland as a strategic asset for the United States. We are not going to outsource our hemispheric security to anyone else.”

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There is also a big of a warning thrown at the very end of the briefing: asked about any potential trade retaliation from European partners, he says it would be “very unwise.”

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Meanwhile, Danish defence minister Troels Lund Poulsen and Greenlandic foreign minister Vivian Motzfeldt are meeting with the EU’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, in Brussels.

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foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas meets Greenlandic foreign minister Vivian Motzfeldt and Danish defence minister Troels Lund Poulsen in Brussels, Belgium.”,”caption”:”EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas meets Greenlandic foreign minister Vivian Motzfeldt and Danish defence minister Troels Lund Poulsen in Brussels, Belgium.”,”credit”:”Photograph: Olivier Matthys/EPA”}},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

The pair is also expected to meet with Nato’s secretary general Mark Rutte later today, with some suggestions in the Danish press that they could also hold a presser afterwards.

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I will keep an eye on that for you.

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Danish foreign minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen is in London this afternoon, meeting with his UK counterpart, Yvette Cooper.

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foreign secretary Yvette Cooper and Denmark’s foreign minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen meet with the media as they meet in London.”,”caption”:”Britain’s foreign secretary Yvette Cooper and Denmark’s foreign minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen meet with the media as they meet in London.”,”credit”:”Photograph: Jack Taylor/AFP/Getty Images”}},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

In brief remarks before the meeting reported by the Danish press, he said that he wanted to thank the UK for its continued support for Denmark and Greenland.

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But you can guess they will have much more to say behind the closed doors as they start drawing up a plan to get Trump to drop his Greenland demands.

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Meanwhile, Dutch finance minister Eelco Heinen said the US tariff threats over Greenland were “unnecessary and irresponsible,” as he hoped for “de-escalation” in the coming days.

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“It’s unnecessary because we are part of the same alliance. We make the same threat analyses. We are willing to work together. And it’s irresponsible because it’s going to hurt the world’s economy, and it’s not in the benefit of both continents. So most important is that we de-escalate,” he said.

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He declined to say if the EU was prepared to deploy its anti-coercion instrument, saying “I am not going to talke in terms of threats, but all the options, of course, are on the table, but I want to have a constructive dialogue.”

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“We need to de-escalate and take it from there,” he said.

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Meanwhile over in Brussels, Ireland’s deputy prime minister and finance minister Simon Harris called for “cool heads” to prevail in discussions on the EU’s response to Trump’s tariff threats.

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He stressed that Europe was “not seeking confrontation with anybody,” but it’s Trump who “decided to threaten Europe with additional tariffs, ones that have a very significant destabilising effect.”

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He warned that “the destabilising effect could potentially be enormous.”

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He said that “we want to have dialogue in a cool and calm way” for further talks with US, although he noted that bloc was ready to “respond accordingly, should that be required.”

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Meanwhile, several Danish media are reporting plans to ramp up the Danish military presence in Greenland in the coming hours.

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Public service broadcaster DR says the Danish Armed Forces confirmed it would be a “substantial” presence, without offering further details at this stage.

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Broadcaster TV2 reported earlier that the troops are expected in Kangerlussuaq in Greenland later this evening, alongside Denmark’s army chief Mjr Gn Peter H. Boysen.

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The Danish army also released a first picture from its military exercises in the semiautonomous territory, saying in a post published last night that its troops were working on “how to handle their weapons in freezing temperatures, wind, and snow.”

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France’s finance and economic minister Roland Lescure warned that Europe “has to step up” to respond to Trump’s tariff threats, warning about “uncharted” future.

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“An ally, a friend of 250, years, is considering using tariffs. We don’t like tariffs, but certainly we don’t like using tariffs as a geopolitical weapon,” he said, speaking at the Eurogroup meeting arrivals in Brussels, alongside his German counterpart, Lars Klingbeil.

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“We don’t want tariffs to be weaponised, and they must not be,” he said.

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“Europe has to step up. Europe has to be strong, and Europe has to make sure that the threats that have been [proposed] don’t become reality.”

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He added that in the coming days “every day, every minute, every hour has to be used … for this not to happen.”

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n

“If it were to happen, we’ve already said that we’d be able to respond, but the idea today is to make sure that we’re credible enough, we’re strong enough, and we’re able to say ‘no’ together, so this doesn’t happen, and we’re going to make sure it doesn’t.”

n

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By the way, on that Trump’s claim that “there are no written documents” on Denmark’s ownership of Greenland (9:45), someone may want to point him out in the direction of this declaration signed in 1916 by the then US state secretary Robert Lensing, issued as the US and Denmark agreed to trade West Indies.

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n

“In proceeding this day to the signature of the Convention respecting the cession of the Danish West-Indian Islands to the United States of America, the undersigned Secretary of State of the United States of America, duly authorized by his Government, has the honor to declare that the Government of the United States of America will not object to the Danish Government extending their political and economic interests to the whole of Greenland.

n

Robert Lansing.

n

New York, August 4, 1916”

n

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Quite conclusive, if you ask me.

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The European Parliament is to hold a press briefing this afternoon to explain this week’s plenary session, given the expected decision to halt the ratification process of last summer’s trade deal with the US.

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On Saturday night, the European People’s Party, the Socialists & Democrats and the Renew grouping of MEPs said they did not think it should be ratified as planned this week in the light of Donald Trump’s threats to impose more tariffs on six EU countries along with Norway and the UK.

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Patriots for Europe leader Jordan Bardella has also called for the suspension of the trade framework agreed in Trump’s Scottish golf course.

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Merz also says that while he shares the US “long-term” concern over the Arctic security, he cannot ignore that fact that the US once had “over 30,000” soldiers there and now it has “fewer than 200,” so “even the US own threat analysis isn’t as dramatic as it’s being portrayed.”

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He caveats that by saying that doesn’t mean it couldn’t escalate at short notice in the future, so it’s important for European Nato allies to do more to safeguard the region, which will “certainly” get more attention in the coming years.

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But he also reiterates his earlier point about the need to uphold the principles of territorial integrity and sovereignty of Greenland and Denmark.

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He says he will do whatever he can to convince the US not to infringe them as “that would have further consequences, including for cooperation within Nato,” and hopes to resolve this issue through diplomacy instead.

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Curiously, Merz also says that the US couldn’t have been surprised by the Greenland mission as it had been discussed in the Nato council beforehand in the presence of a US representative.

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He says it was completed on schedule, and was never meant to be a proper military deployment, but merely a reconnaissance fact-finding mission to see what needs to be done.

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And that ends the presser.

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Asked to offer a bit more insight into his strategy on Trump, Merz says that Trump repeatedly threatens tariffs and often implements them, but sometimes you can talk him out of that.

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He says that has been his strategy since taking office in May last year, and he will continue to do so.

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Asked about it further in the Q&A, Merz says he spoke with other leaders over the weekend, and they agree that “we want to avoid any escalation in this dispute at all if possible.”

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chancellor and leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) Friedrich Merz attends a press conference at the CDU headquarters in Berlin, Germany.”,”caption”:”German chancellor and leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) Friedrich Merz attends a press conference at the CDU headquarters in Berlin, Germany.”,”credit”:”Photograph: Annegret Hilse/Reuters”}},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

He says that this week’s meeting in Davos should offer ample opportunities to discuss this further, and he “will try to meet with Trump” on Wednesday – but he says “as is customary” for Davos, his schedule is not finalised yet.

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He reluctantly says the EU could respond with its measures if needed, but doesn’t want to and hopes to resolve it through diplomacy.

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“If we are confronted with tariffs that we consider unreasonable, then we can react,” he notes, and says this will be discussed during this Thursday’s EU emergency summit.

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He repeats the EU’s earlier point that the freeze on counter-measures considered last summer expires on 6 February, and so they could come into effect the next day (12:18).

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But he repeats time after time that’s not the intention as he hopes for transatlantic trade to continue uninterrupted.

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Merz also gets asked about EU unity on this, with some countries like Italy or Poland not joining the military deployment to Greenland last week.

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He says it was mostly joined by the Nordics, and stresses – just like Meloni and Starmer – that it was merely “a reconnaissance mission” and it’s completed now (10:45).

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He says he hopes for EU agreement on this and notes that “we may also meet in Davos on Wednesday in various configurations to coordinate our approach.”

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And indeed, Germany’s Merz wastes no time as he talks about Trump, tariffs and Greenland already in his opening remarks, noting that “the world is in the state of flux and we must adapt to it.”

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chancellor and leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) Friedrich Merz speaks next to Gordon Schnieder, CDU top candidate for the upcoming state election in Rhineland-Palatinate, during a press conference at the CDU headquarters in Berlin, Germany.”,”caption”:”German chancellor and leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) Friedrich Merz speaks next to Gordon Schnieder, CDU top candidate for the upcoming state election in Rhineland-Palatinate, during a press conference at the CDU headquarters in Berlin, Germany.”,”credit”:”Photograph: Annegret Hilse/Reuters”}},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

He notes Trump’s comments “demanding more influence over Greenland,” citing security in the High North as the main reason for that.

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He says he broadly shares his assessment of risks, and Nato partners should do more for security in the region, as he notes the Bundeswehr reconnaissance mission in Greenland over the weekend. He says any decisions on potential German involvement in any further multinational framework will be decided “in due course.”

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But he also makes his backing for Greenland and Denmark clear, saying they can “count on our solidarity.”

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“We are ready to support the talks with the US, and the basis of these talks should always be the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity,” he says.

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He also says there is a “broad agreement” among the European leaders that “further tariff threats will not strengthen transatlantic relations, but weaken them” and would hurt the economies of both sides of the equation.

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He says the focus is on keeping a united Europe and Nato, and says he will be in touch with both Trump and EU partners.

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Norwegian VG newspaper claims it has seen the original message sent by Norway’s prime minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Finland’s president Alexander Stubb, which seems to have prompted Trump to respond with his explosive letter on Nobel and Greenland.

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The message, sent by text, reportedly read:

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n

“Dear Mr president, dear Donald –on the contact across the Atlantic – on Greenland, Gaza, Ukraine – and your tariff announcement yesterday. You know our position on these issues. But we believe we all should work to take this down and de-escalate – so much is happening around us where we need to stand together. We are proposing a call with you later today – with both of us or separately – give us a hint of what you prefer! Best – Alex and Jonas.”

n

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Norwegian VG, which later confirmed the authenticity of the letter with Støre, says that Trump replied less than half an hour later, sending his angry letter on how he ‘no longer feels an obligation to think purely of peace’ after Nobel peace prize snub (9:45).

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Mind you: The Guardian has not independently verified the text exchange.

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Meanwhile, Greenlandic prime minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said the latest comments from Trump “do not change” the consensus that has built in support of Greenland’s right to self-determine its future.

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“We will not let ourselves be pressured. We stand firm on dialogue, on respect and on international law,” he said in a post on Facebook, with pictures from last week’s demonstrations in Greenland.

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prime minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen takes part in a demonstration that gathered almost a third of the city population to protest against the US President’s plans to take Greenland.”,”caption”:”Greenlandic prime minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen takes part in a demonstration that gathered almost a third of the city population to protest against the US President’s plans to take Greenland.”,”credit”:”Photograph: Alessandro Rampazzo/AFP/Getty Images”}},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

He also said the upcoming meeting with Nato secretary general Rutte in Brussels was particularly “important” to discuss the Arctic security in the alliance (9:45, 11:54), saying the territory’s foreign minister Vivian Motzfeldt “has my full support and I am sure that she will clearly … and with great dignity express our positions.”

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Senior correspondent covering international trade

The EU has struck a decidedly diplomatic note today calling for calm on all sides as leaders try to work among themselves and with the White House to avert the crisis over Greenland spiralling into a full-on trade war in two weeks time.

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“We are trying to be calm,” European Commission’s trade spokesperson Olof Gill told reporters at the daily press briefing in Brussels on Monday. “The priority here is to engage, not escalate and avoid the issue of tariffs”.

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“EU leaders are consulting intensively. As well as that, engagement with the US is continuing at all levels,” he said.

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“Sometimes the most responsible for of leadership is restraint,” he added (12:12).

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He confirmed that the €93bn package of counter tariffs, agreed last year, could come into force on 7 February if Donald Trump carries out his threat to impose 10% tariffs on 2 February (12:18).

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His answers were designed to dial down the rhetoric after a war of words unleashed by Trump’s threat to introduce tariffs against the UK, Norway and six EU countries who supported a coordinated military presence in Greenland last week.

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In an unprecedented confrontation with a long-standing, now unreliable ally, France’s Emmanuel Macron said no amount of intimidation would work, while the Swedish prime minister Ulf Kristersson warned the EU would not be “blackmailed” and the Norwegian prime minister Jonas Gahr Støre warned that “threats have no place among allies”.

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President Trump will be in Davos on Wednesday but as yet no meetings are planned with the European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, Gill said (12:12).

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Pressed repeatedly on the issue of facing Trump down with either the €93bn worth of retaliatory measures or activating a never-used before anti-coercion instrument, Gill drove home a clear EU message that leaders want to resolve the crisis through talks asap (12:29).

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“I think it was very clear from the president’s post on social media yesterday that the objective here is to avoid, an escalation, find a solution that works and, ultimately, to avoid the imposition of these tariffs which serve, no good and will ultimately only hit consumers, in particular American consumers. So we’re looking to avoid that outcome.”

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EU’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas will meet with Danish deputy prime minister, defence minister Troels Lund Poulsen and Greenlandic foreign minister Vivian Motzfeldt later today, the commission has just confirmed.

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The Danish-Greenlandic pair is also separately meeting Nato’s Mark Rutte at Nato HQ today.

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Meanwhile, the European Commission has just confirmed that its president, Ursula von der Leyen, got a letter inviting her to join Trump’s Gaza ‘board of peace’.

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n

“The president is in close contact with EU leaders on all geopolitical matters, and discussions will continue on this topic, I’m sure, during the week. Our objective here is to achieve peace, and in particular, we want to contribute to a comprehensive plan to end the Gaza conflict.”

n

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No line on whether she will accept or not.

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We are now getting a bit more clarity about that emergency European Council summit planned for this week, which is now expected to start 7pm local time on Thursday.

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Gill keeps repeating the EU’s main message today, that the bloc is “taking every possible step to avoid worst case outcomes, i.e. escalation … and we are trying to be calm, to be firm, to be serious, to be responsible.”

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n

“Because that’s what, in our view, leadership looks like.”

n

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He faces more questions on the EU’s anti-coercion instrument, saying “it’s primary goal is to serve as a deterrent,” and “sometimes just mentioning the possibility of a stronger tool can serve the desired effect.”

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The EU’s Gill also offers a bit more detail on the EU’s potential move to retaliate against the US, unfreezing the €93bn package adopted during the summer and which was paused after the EU-US deal in Scotland.

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He says the suspension of the package lapses on 6th February, and that is “automatic.”

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n

“Unless the commission, in consultation with member states via the usual comitology, procedure, take steps to extend the suspension, the suspension ends and the measures kick in on the 7th February.”

n

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He says there has been “no decision” on this either way as leaders consult on next steps, but that’s the process.

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He adds that the focus is on avoiding an escalation and finding a solution that works for all involved.

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n

“If I was to summarise what the Commission wants to achieve here: we want to make sure that the maximum amount of EU unity and solidarity is maintained so that we are in the strongest possible position to achieve the outcomes.”

n

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But the EU’s Gill adds that “should the threatened tariffs be imposed, the European Union has tools at its disposal and is prepared to respond because we will do everything necessary to protect EU’s economic interests.”

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But then he repeats the earlier line that “our priority is to engage, not escalate,” and that the EU’s engagement with the US “is continuing at all levels.”

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But he says:

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n

“Sometimes the most responsible form of leadership is restraint.”

n

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He says he is not aware of plans for a Trump – von der Leyen meeting, but notes they’ll both be in Davos this week.

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The European Commission’s daily briefing is now under way.

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The commission’s deputy chief spokesperson and trade lead, Olof Gill, says that “intensive consultations are ongoing among EU leaders,” but he says that “it’s clear from the consultations among EU leaders, including president von der Leyen, that the priority here is to engage, not escalate and avoid the imposition of tariffs.”

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n

“Why? Because this will ultimately harm consumers and businesses on both sides of the Atlantic.”

n

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The Kremlin’s latest comments – essentially playing on Trump’s determination to ensure his place in history – come just after the Russian administration also confirmed that Russian president Vladimir Putin has been invited to join US president Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace” meant to oversee governance and reconstruction in postwar Gaza.

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Peskov told journalists that Russia was seeking to “clarify all the nuances” of the offer with Washington, amid media reports about certain unusual conditions of the membership in the body.

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Meanwhile, the Kremlin said that it was hard to disagree with experts who said that US president Donald Trump would go down in the history of the United States and the world if he took control of Greenland, Reuters reported.

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“Here, perhaps, it is possible to abstract from whether this is good or bad, whether it will comply with the parameters of international law or not,” spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said, but stated it would “certainly go down in history.”

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n
• n

  UK prime minister Keir Starmer has insisted that “any decision on Greenland belongs to people of Greenland and Denmark alone” (10:25), as he criticised Trump’s plan to impose tariffs on allies are “completely wrong” (10:26) in some of his strongest comments about the US president yet.

n

• n

  But he still hit markedly softer tones than most European allies, such as France and Germany, (9:56) in his response to US president Donald Trump’s escalating rhetoric on Greenland, refusing to commit to any form of retaliation against US tarrifs (10:35), and reiterating the strategic importance of the UK’s relationship with the US (10:22).

n

• n

  When pushed on this, he insisted the approach he has taken has generated billions of pounds in investment and security cooperation with the US keeps the UK safe in ways he cannot always discuss.

n

• n

  Starmer also appeared to pick up a suggestion, first floated by Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni, that the European decision to move military personnel to Greenland may have been misunderstood by Trump (10:45).

n

• n

  The UK prime minister also said he would continue engaging with Trump “in coming days” and will speak with the European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen “today or tomorrow” as he insisted that the UK was closely coordinating with the EU on this issue (10:52).

n

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For more quotes and UK specific lines, check UK blog with Andrew Sparrow:

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It’s also worth noting Starmer’s comment that he doesn’t think that Trump is actually considering military action on Greenland.

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“I don’t actually. I think that this can be resolved and should be resolved, through, calm discussion.”

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Not entirely sure Denmark or other European allies will see it the same way, though – or that they have much faith in “calm discussions” with Trump.

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Denmark has tried it last week, mind you, with that high-level meeting with JD Vance and Rubio and a decision to set up a working group on Greenland, only to then hear more and more rapidly escalating rhetoric coming from the US.

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Despite Starmer’s very markedly different, much softer, tone from that of other EU leaders, he insists there is “proper unity and coordination” in the EU and the UK’s response.

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n

“I spoke to a number of EU leaders last night, I spoke to Ursula von der Leyen last night and intend to do so again, either today or tomorrow, so that we’re closely aligned. There’s proper unity and coordination in our response.

n

They will decide exactly what they will do next during the course of today in the coming days, but we’re working very closely with them.”

n

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But he also – as he has been throughout this press conference – once again picks bits where he agrees with Trump, as he says “Europe needs to do more on defence and security.”

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n

“We haven’t actually been able to be as effective as we might otherwise have been if we coordinated in years gone by. And I think it’s really time for Europe to be much more united, much stronger on this issue. And that’s one of the arguments I’ve been leading on and making, to allies and leaders for some consistent and considerable time now.”

n

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It’s also interesting how Starmer picks up a suggestion from a journalist that Trump may have misunderstood the European push to move some (limited) military personnel to Greenland as a move against him, and not as their way of showing they hear and want to engage with his arguments on the importance of securing the Arctic.

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He says “that is one of the things I discussed with President Trump yesterday, … those forces which were clearly there to assess and work on risk from the Russians.”

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I think Italy’s Giorgia Meloni, one of Europe’s best Trump whisperers, was the first leader to float this narrative as an off-ramp of sorts for all involved over the weekend, and this seems to be gaining some momentum.

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This press conference feels like Starmer trying to explain why the UK is not as hawkish as, say, France or Germany (9:56) in its response to Trump’s threats on Greenland.

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He keeps stressing how interconnected the UK is with the US, from economic issues to intelligence and defence, and how it therefore makes it absolutely critical to put diplomacy ahead of everything else, at all costs.

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But does that mean he would not retaliate at all if Trump followed through on his tariff threats?

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And the obvious question there, however, is: what if, now or further down the line, we discover that this soft approach simply doesn’t and won’t work?

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In a hint of what the UK’s response could be, Starmer says “the tariffs should not be used against allies in this way in relation to the escalation.”

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But, despite being pushed on this point twice now, he doesn’t say if the UK would retaliate or not if Trump followed through on his threat on tariffs.

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There are a lot of words there about the need to offer a consistent response, but it’s genuinely not clear if that’s a yes or a no.

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He says “tariffs are not in anybody’s interest” and that he wants to avoid it, but does not say what he would do if they were unavoidable as a result of Trump’s actions.

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Starmer also says that the UK’s view is to be pragmatic and not play to the audience or propose grandiose gestures, but to work behind the scenes to get to some sort of agreement.

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He says:

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n

“Britain is a pragmatic country. We look for agreement. We believe in partnership, we prefer solutions to slogans and we will not indulge in commentary and gesture politics that harm the British people. But being pragmatic does not mean being passive. A partnership does not mean abandoning principle. That is why it’s important to be clear about who we stand with, what we stand for, and where our interests lie.

n

…

n

There will always be people who reach for the performative, who think an angry social media post or grandstanding is a substitute for hard work. That’s an understandable instinct, but it’s not effective. It never has been. It may make politicians feel good, but it does nothing for working people whose jobs, livelihoods and security rely on the relationships that we build across the world.”

n

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(Andrew Sparrow gives a bit more UK context on that here.)

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Not entirely clear what all of this means in practice though – would the UK impose retaliating tariffs on the US, for example? – so expect him to get asked about it later.

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In his strongest criticism of Trump yet, Starmer goes on to say:

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“In recent decades, alliances endure because they’re built on respect and partnership, not pressure. That is why I said the use of tariffs against allies is completely wrong, nor is it helpful to frame efforts to strengthen Greenland security as a justification for economic pressure.”

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He specifically says “such measures hurt British workers, British businesses and the British economy.”

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n

A trade war is in no one’s interest, and my job is always to act in the UK’s national interest.

n

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Starmer has he “talks regularly” with Trump and his team has “daily” chats with senior people in the US administration.

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But he says:

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“Mature alliances are not about pretending differences don’t exist. They are about addressing them directly, respectfully, and with a focus on results.”

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He says the security of Greenland matters and will matter more as climate change progresses.

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But he says “there is a principle here that cannot be set aside” as he stresses “any decision about the future status of Greenland belongs to the people of Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark alone.”

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Starmer says the world has become “markedly more turbulent” in recent times, but he says it’s important to be clear about values guiding the UK through this period.

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n

“Our values were not improvised. They were built patiently over time. And while we are pragmatic in how we pursue our interests, we are resolute in defending those values when it matters.”

n

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But he opens with a positive tone on US relationship, as he says “the UK and the US are close allies and close partners,” and “that relationship matters profoundly, not just to our security, but to the prosperity and the stability that people here depend upon.”

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This has not changed under Trump, he says.

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Meanwhile, Greenland’s dogsled federation said that the new US special envoy to the Arctic island had been disinvited to its annual race, as Washington repeatedly threatens to take over the autonomous Danish territory, AFP reported.

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Jeff Landry had been invited to attend the race by a private Greenlandic tour operator, an invite the KNQK federation has previously called “totally inappropriate”.

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“KNQK has been informed that the tourism company that invited Governor Jeff Landry from the United States has unilaterally withdrawn its invitation,” it wrote on Facebook overnight. “This is reassuring,” it added.

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Landry said last week he was planning to come to Greenland in March.

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Meanwhile, a number of other European countries are giving their increasingly hardline responses to Trump’s threats on trade and Greenland.

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Germany’s vice-chancellor Lars Klingbeil said this morning that “we will not allow ourselves to be blackmailed,” as he insisted that Europe would “respond with a united, clear response.

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“We are now preparing countermeasures together with our European partners,” he said.

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His French counterpart, Roland Lescure, said that he would convene an urgent meeting of his counterparts from the G7 grouping to discuss Trump’s latest comments, but reiterated that France was “fully supportive of Greenland and Denmark.”

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“Blackmail between friends is obviously unacceptable,” he said.

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Throwing a bit more light on Trump’s unusual letter stating how he’s no longer “purely” interested in peace, Jonas Gahr Støre, the Norwegian prime minister, said the message came shortly after he and Finland’s Alexander Stubb sent a letter opposing the proposed tariffs on some European countries.

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“We pointed out the need to de-escalate the exchange of words and requested a phone call between Trump, Stubb and me during the day,” he told VG newspaper.

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But he noted that “the response from Trump came only shortly after we had sent the message,” and Trump then decided to share the letter with other Nato countries’ representatives, too.

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Støre also reiterated his support for Denmark and Greenland, and stressed that the state of Norway has nothing to do with the Nobel Peace Prize award-giving process.

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Separately, numerous experts that the Norwegian paper spoke with called the letter a blatant attempt to “blackmail” Europe, with one particularly amused commentator telling VG that “the stupidity is so great that you hardly know where to begin.”

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US president Donald Trump and senior members of his administration have repeatedly reiterated their determination to take control of Greenland overnight, just hours after the European leaders started frantically coordinating their response to the US move to impose tariffs on most vocal opponents of the plan.

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Overnight, Trump said in a social media post:

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n

“Nato has been telling Denmark, for 20 years, that “you have to get the Russian threat away from Greenland.” Unfortunately, Denmark has been unable to do anything about it. Now it is time, and it will be done!!! President Donald J. Trump”

n

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US treasury secretary Scott Bessent also pursued a similar line, telling NBC broadcaster that “Europeans project weakness, US projects strength.”

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“The president believes enhanced security is not possible without Greenland being part of the US,” he said.

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In further escalation, he also appeared to link the future of Greenland with the continuation of the US support for Ukraine.

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He said:

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n

“The European leaders will come around. And they will understand that they need to be under the US security umbrella. What would happen in Ukraine if the US pulled its support out? The whole thing would collapse.”

n

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The issue of Greenland’s future will continue to dominate the news agenda today, as the Europeans coordinate their next steps ahead of this week’s extraordinary EU summit, expected on Thursday. UK prime minister Keir Starmer is also expected to wade in, with a special emergency press conference convened for this morning.

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Later today, the Danish and Greenlandic ministers will also meet with Nato’s secretary general Mark Rutte, who has been one of Trump’s closest European partners.

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But even being the extremely diplomatic (or sycophantic, if you ask his critics) and glass-half-full kind of person, the Dutchman couldn’t strike a particularly positive tone after his Sunday night call with Trump, saying in a terse readout that he “spoke with @POTUS regarding the security situation in Greenland and the Arctic. We will continue working on this, and I look forward to seeing him in Davos later this week.”

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And yet…

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Perhaps the most explosive revelation this morning comes from another direction, first reported by PBS journalist Nick Schifrin, and later widely reported in Europe.

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Over the weekend, Trump sent a letter to Norway’s prime minister Jonas Gahr Støre telling him that “considering your country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace.”

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(Norway doesn’t decide the Nobel Peace Prize, mind you. It’s an independent committee based in Oslo, not controlled by the Norwegian state.)

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He added, magnanimously, “although [thinking about peace] will always be predominant, but [I] can now think about what is good and proper for the United States of America.”

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Trump then doubled down on his threat against Denmark over Greenland, saying:

“,”elementId”:”427f31ee-a4c8-4688-8630-a3eed87e22ce”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”

n

“Denmark cannot protect that land from Russia or China, and why do they have a ‘right of ownership’ anyway? There are no written documents, it’s only that a boat landed there hundreds of years ago, but we had boats landing there, also. I have done more for Nato than any other person since its founding, and now, Nato should do something for the United States. The World is not secure unless we have Complete and Total Control of Greenland. Thank you! President DJT”

n

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Amusingly, the Norwegian PM has confirmed the authenticity of the letter to VG newspaper, saying it came in a response to his and Finnish president Alexander Stubb’s earlier message to Trump.

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It’s going to be a crazy day today, so brace. I will bring you all the latest here.

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It’s Monday, 19 January 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.

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Good morning.

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• Beijing has urged the US to stop using the “so-called ‘China threat’” as a justification for imposing tariffs on European countries which have opposed Trump’s plan to acquire Greenland.

• MPs in the UK’s House of Commons have called for a boycott of the World Cup this summer in response to Trump’s plans to annex Greenland.

• Making tariff threats is “no way to treat allies”, the UK’s foreign secretary Yvette Cooper has said.

• Denmark has proposed that Nato start surveillance operations in Greenland, with the support of the Arctic island. Nato chief Mark Rutte took note of this, Danish defence minister Troels Lund Poulsen said.

• In a brief telephone interview with NBC News, Donald Trump declined to rule out seizing Greenland by force – “No comment,” he told the broadcaster – but insisted that he would “100%” push ahead with his plans to hit European nations with tariffs if he doesn’t get Greenland.

• The US president’s comments come after he sent a letter to Norway’s prime minister Jonas Gahr Støre telling him that “considering your country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace.”

• Leaders across Europe have been weighing in on both the issue of Greenland and the threat of tariffs from the US, with some like Roland Lescure, France’s finance and economic minister, warning that Europe “has to step up” and respond to Trump’s tariff threats while Simon Harris, Ireland’s deputy prime minister and finance minister, called for “cool heads”.

• Keir Starmer, the prime minister of the United Kingdom, held a press conference criticising Trump’s punitive tariff plan as “completely wrong” and maintained that “any decision on Greenland belongs to people of Greenland and Denmark alone” – but stopped short of committing to any form of retaliation against US tariffs. Meanwhile, France’s Emmanuel Macron said no amount of intimidation would work, while the Swedish prime minister Ulf Kristersson warned the EU would not be “blackmailed” and the Norwegian prime minister Jonas Gahr Støre warned that “threats have no place among allies”. German chancellor Friedrich Merz said the focus was on trying to talk Trump out of imposing tariffs over Greenland – but also said that it was important for European Nato allies to do more to safeguard the region.

• EU leaders called for calm on all sides as they attempt to work among themselves – and with the White House – to avoid full-on trade war. European Commission’s trade spokesperson Olof Gill told reporters on Monday that leaders want to resolve the crisis through talks as soon as possible. But “should the threatened tariffs be imposed, the European Union has tools at its disposal and is prepared to respond because we will do everything necessary to protect EU’s economic interests,” Gill added.

Thanks for following the blog with me, Donna Ferguson. Goodnight.

The German chancellor, Fredrich Merz, has said that Europe is “in a position to respond” to the threat of “inappropriate” US tariffs.

Speaking at a press conference in Berlin, Merz said: “We do not want a trade dispute with the US, but if we are confronted with tariff that we consider inappropriate, then we are in a position to respond. And that is precisely what we will be discussing in Brussels on Thursday.”

He added: “Tomorrow marks exactly one year since Trump took office. We now from the experience of the last 12 months that Trump repeatedly threatens to impose tariffs, often actually does so, but also frequently refrains from doing so after talks and negotiations with him.”

North American miltary aircraft will soon arrive at a US military base in Greenland for “long-planned” activities, according to North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), a joint US-Canada military organisation for aerospace monitoring and defence.

“This activity has been coordinated with the Kingdom of Denmark, and all supporting forces operate with the requisite diplomatic clearances. The Government of Greenland is also informed of planned activities,” NORAD said.

Beijing has urged the US to stop using the “so-called ‘China threat’” as a justification for imposing tariffs on European countries which have opposed Trump’s plan to acquire Greenland.

In response to a question a from a Bloomberg journalist, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said: “China has stated its position on multiple occasions on Greenland.

“The international law underpinned by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter is the foundation of the current international order and must be upheld.

“We urge the US to stop using the so-called “China threat” as a pretext for itself to seek selfish gains.”

Red baseball caps spoofing Donald Trump’s iconic MAGA hats are being worn in Copenhagen at public protests against the president’s threat to seize Greenland.

The caps read ‘Make America Go Away’, parodying Trump’s ‘Make American Great Again’ slogan.

They were created by Copenhagen vintage clothing store owner Jesper Rabe Tonnesen. He told Associated Press that demand suddenly surged from a trickle to selling out in the space of one weekend, and he has now ordered “several thousand.”

Keir Starmer has spoken to the Italian prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, and the Canadian prime minister, Mark Carney, to reiterate the UK’s stance on Greenland, a Downing Street spokesperson said.

Starmer “was clear that the future of Greenland belongs to the people of Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark alone”, the spokesperson said.

“He said that it was in everybody’s interests to go further to deliver on Arctic security and that the UK stands ready to contribute fully alongside our allies through Nato.
“He was clear as well that the use of tariffs against allies for pursuing collective security is completely wrong.”

The spokesperson added: “The prime minister continued to underline the need to continue the good progress with allies to end the war in Ukraine and to maintain steadfast support in the face of continued Russian aggression.”

The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has insisted on “the need to unequivocally respect” Greenland and Denmark’s sovereignty during a meeting with a bipartisan delegation from the US Congress at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland.

She wrote on social media that “this is of utmost importance to our transatlantic relationship. At the same time, the European Union remains ready to continue working closely with the United States, NATO, and other allies, in close cooperation with Denmark, to advance our shared security interests.”

She added that she had also discussed efforts for peace in Ukraine as well as transatlantic trade and investment with the delegation. “They are a major asset for both the EU and US economies. Tariffs run counter to these shared interests,” she said.

MPs in the UK’s House of Commons have called for a boycott of the World Cup this summer in response to Trump’s plans to annex Greenland.

Conservative former minister Simon Hoare and Liberal Democrat MP for Sutton and Cheam Luke Taylor intimated that both England and Scotland, along with any other home nations who qualify through the playoffs, should pull out of the tournament in protest Trump.

Hoare said the government needed to “fight fire with fire” and embarrass Trump. He also suggested the king could cancel his planned state visit to the United States.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Hoare said: “We need to try and work out what makes this man tick. He is thin-skinned, he has an ego and he doesn’t like to be embarrassed.

“Should the state visit go ahead this year? Should football teams play in American stadia for the World Cup?

“These are things which would embarrass the president at home. We now need to fight fire with fire.”

The World Cup will start on June 11. Scotland will play their first World Cup game in nearly 30 years three days later. Meanwhile, Thomas Tuchel’s England will kick off against Croatia on June 17.

Taylor said: “I want to agree with (Mr Hoare) and ask the government if they will consider removing the King’s visit to the United States, and also a boycott of the World Cup to show Donald Trump that the only thing he responds to is his own pride.”

Three Catholic cardinals in the US have urged Trump to use a moral compass in pursuing its foreign policy, saying US military action in Venezuela, threats of acquiring Greenland and cuts in foreign aid risk bringing vast suffering instead of promoting peace.

In a joint statement, Cardinals Blase Cupich of Chicago, Robert McElroy of Washington and Joseph Tobin of Newark, N.J., warned that without a moral vision, the current debate over Washington’s foreign policy was mired in “polarization, partisanship, and narrow economic and social interests”.

The three cardinals cited Venezuela, Greenland and Ukraine in their statement – saying they “raised basic questions about the use of military force and the meaning of peace” – as well as the cuts to foreign aid that U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration initiated last year.

“Our country’s moral role in confronting evil around the world, sustaining the right to life and human dignity, and supporting religious liberty are all under examination,” they warned.

“We renounce war as an instrument for narrow national interests and proclaim that military action must be seen only as a last resort in extreme situations, not a normal instrument of national policy,” they wrote. “We seek a foreign policy that respects and advances the right to human life, religious liberty, and the enhancement of human dignity throughout the world, especially through economic assistance.”

France does not plan to join the Trump’s new ‘Board of Peace’ “at this stage” despite receiving an invitation, according to an French official close to President Emmanuel Macron.

The Board of Peace will supervise the next phase of the Gaza peace plan, overseeing the Gaza executive committee that’s tasked with seeing through key provisions of the plan, including deployment of an international security force, disarmament of Hamas and the territory’s reconstruction.

The French official, who spoke to the Associated Press anonymously, said the creation of the board is raising questions, particularly with regard to respect for the principles and structure of the United Nations.

Russia, Belarus and Thailand have also been asked to join. A top Israeli official said the initiative is “bad for Israel” and should be scrapped.

Making tariff threats is “no way to treat allies”, the UK’s foreign secretary Yvette Cooper has said.

Making a statement in the House of Commons, Cooper said: “First, Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark. Its future is a matter for Greenlanders and the Danes, and them alone.

“This reflects the fundamental principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity to which this whole House is committed.

“Second, the use or the threat of tariffs against allies in this way is completely wrong. It is unwarranted and it is counter-productive.

“Third, Arctic security is a shared concern and a shared responsibility for both sides of the Atlantic.

“It can only be effectively addressed and maintained through a co-operation between transatlantic allies and, crucially, through Nato, so instead of divisions that only aid our adversaries, we now need a serious and constructive dialogue about our Arctic security, which is built on respect for sovereignty and collective security, and the rules which underpin our alliance.”

Cooper said Denmark was a “close ally of the UK and the US”, continuing: “Denmark has long been one of the US’s closest allies, a proud Nato member that has stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the UK and with the US, including at real human cost, in recent decades.

“Alliances endure because they are built on respect and partnership, not pressure – and tariffs threats like this are no way to treat allies.”

Wales would be “disproportionately affected” by increased tariffs being threatened by Donald Trump, the country’s first minister has said.

Eluned Morgan has written to Keir Starmer to express her concerns about the impact of the measures on the Welsh economy and businesses.

The US president has said he would impose tariffs on the UK and a series of EU countries until a deal is reached for Washington to purchase Greenland from Denmark.

According to the Welsh government, more than 1,000 Welsh businesses, around a third of Wales’ exporters, send goods to the US.

Morgan said: “People across Wales are already struggling with the cost of living – increased tariffs will only put further pressure on Welsh businesses.

“I have written to Sir Keir Starmer setting out that Wales could be disproportionately affected by additional tariffs, which would be a challenge for many Welsh businesses.

“Threatening the use of tariffs is an unacceptable and aggressive act from a country we consider a friend and ally.

Denmark proposes Nato surveillance mission for Greenland

Denmark is proposing that Nato start surveillance operations in Greenland, with the support of the Arctic island, Danish defence minister Troels Lund Poulsen said Monday after meeting Nato’s chief Mark Rutte.

“We have proposed it, the secretary general has taken note of that, and I think we can now – we hope – define a framework on how that can be concretised,” Poulsen told Danish television.

Donald Trump has put the transatlantic alliance to the test with threats to take over Greenland “one way or the other”, as European countries close ranks against Washington’s designs on the vast Danish autonomous territory.

German and French leaders denounced as “blackmail” weekend threats by Trump to wield new tariffs against countries which oppose his plans for the Arctic island.

Rutte wrote on X that he had discussed “how important the Arctic – including Greenland – is to our collective security” with the Danish minister and Greenland’s top diplomat.

“We’ll continue to work together as Allies on these important issues,” he wrote.

Sweden’s defence minister Pål Jonson suggested a NATO mission “could be a way forward” as Trump insists more must be done to ward off the threat of China and Russia to Greenland.

“We are seeing what is the most constructive way that we could contribute to this endeavor of strengthening the alliance footprint in the High North,” he said after a meeting of Nordic ministers at NATO headquarters in Brussels.

The Swedish defence minister, Pål Jonson, has been talking to reporters on the subject of the latest threats from Trump. Reuters reports they have said when it come to the issue of control over the territory:

When it comes to Denmark and Greenland, Sweden is on the Danish and Greenlandic side

Evening summary

• In a brief telephone interview with NBC News, Donald Trump declined to rule out seizing Greenland by force – “No comment,” he told the broadcaster – but insisted that he would “100%” push ahead with his plans to hit European nations with tariffs if he doesn’t get Greenland.

• The US president’s comments come after he sent a letter to Norway’s prime minister Jonas Gahr Støre telling him that “considering your country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace.”

• Leaders across Europe have been weighing in on both the issue of Greenland and the threat of tariffs from the US, with some like Roland Lescure, France’s finance and economic minister, warning that Europe “has to step up” and respond to Trump’s tariff threats while Simon Harris, Ireland’s deputy prime minister and finance minister, called for “cool heads”.

• Keir Starmer, the prime minister of the United Kingdom, held a press conference criticising Trump’s punitive tariff plan as “completely wrong” and maintained that “any decision on Greenland belongs to people of Greenland and Denmark alone” – but stopped short of committing to any form of retaliation against US tariffs. Meanwhile, France’s Emmanuel Macron said no amount of intimidation would work, while the Swedish prime minister Ulf Kristersson warned the EU would not be “blackmailed” and the Norwegian prime minister Jonas Gahr Støre warned that “threats have no place among allies”. German chancellor Friedrich Merz said the focus was on trying to talk Trump out of imposing tariffs over Greenland – but also said that it was important for European Nato allies to do more to safeguard the region.

• EU leaders called for calm on all sides as they attempt to work among themselves – and with the White House – to avoid full-on trade war. European Commission’s trade spokesperson Olof Gill told reporters on Monday that leaders want to resolve the crisis through talks as soon as possible. But “should the threatened tariffs be imposed, the European Union has tools at its disposal and is prepared to respond because we will do everything necessary to protect EU’s economic interests,” Gill added.

• Trump is scheduled to speak Wednesday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where US treasury secretary Scott Bessent on Monday warned that “everyone should be taking the president at his word.”

• Amidst all the chatter, several Danish media are reporting plans to ramp up the Danish military presence in Greenland in the coming hours. Danish foreign minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen was in London to meet with his UK counterpart, Yvette Cooper, while the Danish defence minister, Troels Lund Poulsen, and Greenlandic foreign affairs minister, Vivian Motzfeldt, met with Mark Rutte, the secretary general of Nato, and discussed a possible Nato surveillance mission for Greenland.

Reuters reports that Peter Szijjarto, the foreign minister of Hungary, said Monday that Greenland is not a European Union issue, signaling that Hungary would not support a joint EU statement.

“We regard this as a bilateral issue that can be resolved via talks between the two parties …I don’t think it is an EU issue,” Szijjarto said. Viktor Orbán, Hungary’s right-wing prime minister, has long been a longtime ally to Donald Trump and his administration.

The Danish defence minister, Troels Lund Poulsen, told reporters that his meeting today with Mark Rutte, the secretary general of Nato, was good and included a discussion of a Nato mission in Greenland and the Arctic.

He said that Denmark and Greenland insist on having a dialogue with the US.