(Jan 20): President Donald Trump said he will meet with several parties over his ambition to take control of Greenland during the upcoming World Economic Forum.
Trump said in a Truth Social post early Tuesday morning that he had a “very good telephone call” with Mark Rutte, the secretary general of Nato, concerning the Danish territory.
“I agreed to a meeting of the various parties in Davos, Switzerland,” Trump said, without specifying who. “As I expressed to everyone, very plainly, Greenland is imperative for National and World Security.”
The remarks came shortly after he restated his desire to take over Greenland, which has spooked Nato allies and prompted stern opposition from EU leaders including French President Emmanuel Macron.
“We have to have it,” Trump told reporters late Monday night, referring to Greenland. Asked about European leaders’ opposition to his plans, he said, “I don’t think they’re going to push back too much.”
Rutte said on social media this week that he had spoken with Trump about Greenland and the Arctic, and that “we will continue working on this.”
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Trump earlier linked his claims on the Danish territory to not being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in a letter he sent to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store.
The president disparaged the Nobel Peace Prize, claiming Norway controls the selection process, although he said he appreciated that Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado gave him her medal.
“I don’t care about the Nobel Prize,” Trump said on Monday. “A very fine woman felt that I deserved it and really wanted me to have the Nobel Prize, and I appreciate that,” he added, referring to Machado.
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The Nobel Peace Prize isn’t decided by the Norwegian government but is awarded by an independent committee.
Trump also claimed the US economy is the world’s “hottest” ahead of his Davos trip, citing rising investment and high stock markets.
The president will deliver a special address to the annual conclave at 2:30pm CET on Wednesday, according to his official schedule.
“We have a lot of meetings scheduled, but the message for Davos is how incredible our country is doing,” he said.
Trump rattled Nato allies over the weekend after threatening to impose tariffs on a group of European members of the alliance if he doesn’t get control of Greenland. The escalation prompted outrage among EU leaders and a call by Macron to activate the bloc’s most powerful retaliation tool.
He took shots at Macron for rejecting his invitation to join a proposed Board of Peace, and suggested he could impose a 200% tariff on champagnes and wines.
Uploaded by Evelyn Chan
