US President Donald Trump also spoke about NATO during his speech in Davos.
Trump dismissed suggestions that a takeover of Greenland would be a blow to NATO.
“The US is treated very unfairly by NATO,” he said, adding: “We give so much and get so little in return.”
“You wouldn’t have NATO if I wasn’t involved,” he said.
“They don’t appreciate what we do. I’m talking about NATO and Europe.”
NATO was founded by leading European nations and Canada, which have been steadfast in saying Greenland is not for sale and cannot be wrested from Denmark. That means the Davos meeting could be could be just the beginning of a larger standoff that may eventually reshape geopolitics worldwide.
Trump, though, simply urged NATO to stand aside and added an ominous warning.
“We want a piece of ice for world protection, and they won’t give it,” Trump said. “You can say yes, and we will be very appreciative. Or you can say no, and we will remember.”
Despite that, he also acknowledged: “We probably won’t get anything unless I decide to use excessive strength and force where we would be frankly unstoppable. But I won’t do that, OK?”
“I don’t have to use force,” he said. “I don’t want to use force. I won’t use force.”
Instead, he called for opening “immediate negotiations” for the U.S. to acquire Greenland.
“This enormous unsecured island is actually part of North America,” Trump said. “That’s our territory.”
Trump suggests Europe is fizzling while U.S. booms
The president has spent weeks saying that the U.S. will get control of Greenland no matter what it takes, arguing that Washington should be in charge to counter threats in the surrounding Arctic sea by Russia and China.
Trump also argued at every turn that the U.S. is booming and its economy is strong, in sharp contrast, he said, to Europe.
