'We Could Use Force, But Won’t’: Trump Makes Greenland Pitch In Davos, Puts NATO On Notice

Last Updated:January 21, 2026, 20:36 IST

Trump invoked World War II to argue that the United States had already stepped in once to defend Greenland when Europe could not.

US President Donald Trump at Davos Summit

US President Donald Trump said that while the United States has the capability to take control of Greenland, it would not use military force to do so, even as he argued that Washington has a historic and continuing responsibility to secure the strategically vital Arctic territory.

Speaking to world leaders and business executives at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump said Greenland’s importance was “much greater than people even understand," adding that recent global events had reinforced its strategic value.

He stressed, however, that the US would not resort to force.

“The US wants Greenland," Trump said, calling it “our territory," but adding that Washington would not use military means to acquire it.

World War II And Case For US Responsibility

Trump invoked World War II to argue that the United States had already stepped in once to defend Greenland when Europe could not.

“We saw this in World War II, when Denmark fell to Germany after just six hours of fighting and was totally unable to defend either itself or Greenland," Trump said, adding, “So the United States was then compelled."

He said Washington felt an obligation to act and deployed US forces to secure the island.

“We felt an obligation to send our own forces to hold the Greenland territory, and hold it we did, at great cost and expense," he said.

According to Trump, US forces established military bases on the island and blocked hostile powers from gaining access.

“They didn’t have a chance of getting on it and they tried. Denmark knows that," he said, explaining, “We literally set up bases on Greenland for Denmark. We fought for Denmark. We weren’t fighting for anyone else."

Trump added that US actions during the war prevented enemies from gaining a foothold in the Western Hemisphere and Africa.

‘Big, Beautiful Piece Of Ice’

In remarks that drew a mixed reaction from the Davos audience, Trump described Greenland as a “big, beautiful piece of ice."

“It’s hard to call it land. It’s a big piece of ice," he said. “But we saved Greenland."

Groans were audible in the hall when Trump went on to say the US had won World War II “big," adding that without American involvement, “you would all be speaking German and a little Japanese, perhaps."

‘How Stupid Were We?’

Trump criticised the decision to return Greenland to Denmark after the war, questioning the move and Denmark’s response since.

“After the war, we gave it back," he said. “How stupid were we to do that? But how ungrateful are they now?"

Calling Greenland a “vast, almost entirely uninhabited and undeveloped territory," Trump said it sat “smack in the middle" of a key strategic zone between the US, Russia and China.

He argued that Greenland’s mineral wealth was secondary to security concerns.

“This enormous, unsecured island is actually part of North America, on the northern frontier of the Western Hemisphere," Trump said. “That’s our territory. It is, therefore, a core security interest of the US."

Negotiations And A Warning

Trump said he was seeking negotiations with Denmark and Greenland over US acquisition of the territory, framing the idea as consistent with historical precedent.

“I am seeking immediate negotiations," he said, noting that the United States and European nations had acquired territories in the past.

He rejected suggestions that such a move would weaken NATO, saying it would instead enhance the alliance’s security.

Later in his speech, Trump issued a blunt warning.

“You can say yes, and we will be very appreciative," he said, asserting, “Or you can say no, and we will remember."

What Trump Said On NATO

Trump dismissed claims that a US takeover of Greenland would harm NATO, instead repeating long-standing grievances about the alliance.

“The US is treated very unfairly by NATO," he said, adding, “We give so much and we get so little in return."

“You wouldn’t have NATO if I didn’t get involved," Trump added, accusing European allies of failing to appreciate US contributions. “They don’t appreciate what we do. I’m talking about NATO and Europe," he said.

Greenland And World War II

Greenland, the world’s largest island, has been part of the Danish realm for centuries and today is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. During World War II, after Denmark was occupied by Germany, the Danish government was unable to exercise effective control over the island. Amid fears that Greenland’s location could be exploited by Axis powers, the United States assumed responsibility for its defence, establishing military installations and weather stations that supported Allied operations in the North Atlantic and Arctic.

That wartime presence later evolved into a lasting US military footprint, including air bases that played a role during the Cold War. Greenland remains strategically significant today because of its location between North America and Europe and its proximity to Arctic shipping routes and military corridors.

News world 'We Could Use Force, But Won’t’: Trump Makes Greenland Pitch In Davos, Puts NATO On Notice

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