Greenland surprise: Trump and NATO hint at deal timeline

Tensions between Donald Trump and NATO appear to be subsiding after the U.S. president announced he had agreed on “the framework of a future deal” over Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, and “the entire Arctic region” with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. The pair met in Davos, Switzerland.

Trump has repeatedly spoken of his desire to acquire Greenland from Denmark, citing U.S. national security as the main reason. Both American and European troops have been sent to the world’s biggest island in recent days, raising the possibility of a military confrontation between historic allies.

What we know about Trump’s potential Greenland deal

The short answer is, not very much.

In an interview on CNBC, Trump said Greenland’s minerals and the United States’ Golden Dome Missile Defense System would be key components of a possible deal.

He described the deal as “a little bit complex” and said it would last “forever.” However, the president did not elaborate further, only noting, “It’s the kind of deal that I wanted to be able to make.”

“We will come together in NATO with our senior commanders to work out what is necessary,” Rutte told Reuters on Thursday, explaining that boosting security in the Arctic would be an essential part of an agreement.

U.S. sovereignty confusion

According to the New York Times, separate discussions took place between alliance officials regarding “the possibility of the United States obtaining sovereignty over land for military bases” in Greenland.

However, a NATO spokesperson explained that Rutte “did not propose any compromise to sovereignty during his meeting with the president in Davos.” Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen stated NATO has “absolutely no mandate to negotiate anything whatsoever” without Denmark in Greenland.

At least one positive is clear: Trump has withdrawn his threat to use military force to annex Greenland, along with his promise to impose additional tariffs on European countries that had sent troops to the island.

When could a deal be finalized?

Rutte appeared pleased with the outcome of his talks with Trump and voiced optimism about a quick resolution to an issue that had threatened to spiral out of control.

“I have no doubt we can do this quite fast,” Rutte explained. “Certainly I would hope for 2026. I hope even early in 2026.”

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