Trump tells Davos only ‘great power’ US can defend Greenland

DAVOS: United States President Donald Trump on Wednesday claimed that only ‘great power’ US could defend Greenland, adding his country was the world’s “economic engine”.

He slammed Europe as “not heading in the right direction”, as Washington’s allies push back against its bid to seize Greenland.

“The USA is the economic engine on the planet. And when America booms, the entire world booms. It’s been the history,” he said during a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where the Greenland crisis has dominated talks.

On Europe, the US leader said parts of continent were “not recognisable”, adding: “I love Europe, and I want to see Europe go good, but it’s not heading in the right direction.”

He earlier told a news conference that he would hold meetings in Davos regarding the Danish territory and expressed confidence that an agreement could eventually be reached.

“I think we will work something out where Nato is going to be very happy and where we’re going to be very happy. But we need it for security purposes. We need it for national security,” Trump said.

Nato leaders have warned that Trump’s strategy on Greenland could destabilise the alliance, even as Denmark and Greenland have proposed expanded US military access to the strategically located Arctic territory, which is home to about 57,000 people.

Asked how far he was prepared to go to secure Greenland, Trump offered a cryptic response. “You’ll find out,” he said. He has repeatedly framed Greenland as a critical Arctic outpost to counter Russian and Chinese influence, though Moscow has dismissed such claims as exaggerated. Monitoring Desk