Over a shocking turnaround that reverberated throughout international markets and NATO blocs, US President Donald Trump has officially retracted his threats of a military “capture” or “invasion” of Greenland. At the World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in Davos on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, the President reclassified his aggressive terms in annexive discussions, making them into a "framework of a future deal" for the Arctic.
Aiding in the 'U-Turn'
It might be said that this pivot was anything but solo, according to senior aides at the White House. A “significant internal push” comes from senior aides, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance, that warned that the threat of force against a NATO ally such as Denmark would dismantle the alliance on a level the U.S. could hardly hope to stomach.
Also, economic advisers reportedly cautioned the President that the huge swings in stock and bond markets spurred by fears of a US-EU trade war could gut domestic economic gains. This collective pressure culminated in Trump’s Davos statement: "I don’t want to use force. I won't use force. All the US is asking for is a place called Greenland."
The ‘Framework’ Deal with NATO
And this breakthrough apparently followed a one-on-one meeting with NATO’s Secretary-General, Mark Rutte. Details may be scanty, but Trump was the one using Truth Social to celebrate the progress:
- How: A collaborative security agreement between the US, Denmark, and Greenland.
- Golden Dome Protection: They are in talks about adding Greenland to the US "Golden Dome" missile defense network to protect against Russian and Chinese aggression in the Arctic.
- Tariff Scrapping: Under the “framework,” Trump said he would temporarily suspend the 10%-25% tariffs he had previously threatened against eight European countries that were against what he wanted to do to Greenland.
Dispute in Nuuk and Copenhagen
Despite the President's positive attitude, leaders in Greenland and Denmark have been cautious. Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen reaffirmed at a press conference that “Greenland is not for sale” and he dismissed the prospect of US “ownership” as an illusion. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen welcomed the de-escalation but said that while Denmark was prepared to talk about security, talk of ceding territory is a “hard red line.”
What’s Next?
As of now, the “framework” is seen more as a ceasefire in a diplomatic war than a settled pact. Technical talks are expected to run through February, with focus on military access and mineral rights rather than sovereignty. So far, the “Invasion of Greenland” is being replaced by a complex Arctic chess match, much to the relief of the international community.
