Trump emphasizes desire to find Greenland, criticizes Europe, Carney, Biden in Davos speech
A day after Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney criticized the use of “economic integration as coercion” and the breakdown of the world order that was created after the Second World War, US President Donald Trump stood on the same stage on Wednesday and put the world order as he sees it.
“The USA is the economic engine of the world and when America prospers, the whole world prospers,” he said. “If it’s bad, it’s bad.”
It’s unclear what, to him, is bad and what’s good — in terms of how America and the world are doing — but he said both are facing “more danger than ever.”
Because of missiles, “nuclear” and “because of weapons of war that I can’t even talk about,” Trump said.
He explained that those are also reasons why the US should get Greenland, posthaste, especially since his country “has never been stronger than we are now.”
Hours later, the president wrote on Truth Social that he had discussed the “framework” of the agreement on Greenland and “the entire Arctic region” with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte and that he would withdraw his threat to impose additional tariffs on the group of European countries over this issue.
“Based on this understanding, I will not impose the tariffs that were scheduled to go into effect on February 1,” Trump wrote. He did not elaborate on the details of the deal in his office but said “more details will be available as negotiations continue.”
US President Donald Trump says the US will not use force to get Greenland when he spoke at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Wednesday, but he reiterated his desire to have an Arctic island for security purposes.
“This large, unprotected island is actually part of North America on the northern border of the Western Hemisphere,” Trump said.
Trump’s speech lasted an hour, as his speeches usually are. Here are some that you can take.
‘Canada lives because of the United States’
He ignored his administration’s policies on the economy and immigration, and he went after his opponents, former president Joe Biden, member of the American congress Ilhan Omar – and he spoke to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney directly, calling him “Mark” and saying that Canada “lives because of the United States.” Remember that, Mark, the next time you make your statements.”
Carney may not have mentioned Trump or the United States by name in his speech on Tuesday, but the president made it clear that the message got through to him.
DAVOS Speech | Prime Minister Mark Carney, speaking at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, says Canada is engaging strategically and with ‘open eyes’ as international orders change, forcing central powers to adapt as they face the ‘explosion’ of global systems.
He reiterated many of his achievements, and presented them at a press conference on Tuesday on the anniversary of his second inauguration last year, including claims of productivity and income growth as well as inflation and immigration.
‘Rapid talks’ in Greenland
The US president has spoken out about his threats to annex Greenland, after threats of tariffs from European countries sought to stop him from doing so.
Trump said he wanted “quick negotiations” to buy space between the Arctic and Atlantic oceans and said it was “globally important” for the US to proceed, but said he would not “use force” to do so. Later in response to reporters’ questions, Trump said, “The military is not on the table. I don’t think there will be a need.”
US President Donald Trump told the World Economic Forum that he would ‘not use force’ to get Greenland from Denmark, calling for ‘quick negotiations’ to make it happen. ‘They can choose. You can say yes, and we’ll appreciate it very much, or you can say no and we’ll miss it.’
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Denmark Lars Løkke Rasmussen he said this assertion is good and the European country will maintain its diplomatic track in the negotiations.
Rasmussen said on Wednesday that Denmark had worked to keep Greenland free of Chinese investment and influence.
Europe is ‘destroying’ itself
Trump took a swipe at Europe at the start of his speech, saying, “It’s terrible what they did to them.” Over the weekend, eight European countries defended Greenland’s sovereignty in the face of Trump’s impeachment threats.
“The truth is that no nation or group of nations is in any position to defend Greenland other than the United States,” he said.
He said European countries are “destroying themselves” with cultural and economic policies, including “mass immigration” and the “New Green Scam,” and urged them to follow the US lead in deregulation, massive tax cuts, tariffs, government spending cuts, and massive layoffs of government workers.
US President Donald Trump spoke at the World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in Davos, Switzerland, on Wednesday. Trump said the US has received 50 million barrels of oil from Venezuela since ousting former president Nicolás Maduro.
He has also repeatedly derided wind power, saying the United Kingdom has overbuilt and underutilized its wind farms.
“They kill the birds, they destroy your landscape. Other than that, I think they’re great. Stupid people buy them,” he said.
The US has been mistreated by NATO
Trump has tied his criticism of European affairs to NATO and criticized the allies for giving less than the US.
He suggested that allies might not protect the US and said that Europe should bear more responsibility for Ukraine, given the location. He blamed the war in Ukraine on the “corrupt” 2020 US election and Biden’s leadership.
The American president said he still wants to make an agreement between Russia and Ukraine and that he will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy while in Switzerland.
