Trump-Greenland latest: US president leaves for Davos with boasts and ominous threat about obtaining territory – UK Times

Swedish Finance Minister Elisabeth Evantesson has called US President Donald Trump’s threat to impose tariffs on several European nations to pressure the sale of Greenland a “new low”.

“I think it’s sad and totally absurd that we have an American president who’s blackmailing the rest of us, trying to get a piece of land or buy it through threats”, Ms Evantesson said in a clip shared by euronews Tuesday. “It’s a new low, so to speak”.

She added: “My message today will be that let’s stand together, let’s put pressure back on the US”.

Greenlander Jens Kjeldsen stands outside the US Consulate in Nuuk, Greenland, every morning before sunrise to protest US President Donald Trump’s threats to acquire Greenland.

Kjeldsen told the Associated Press, “I walk together with the three flags of our Commonwealth of Faroe Islands and Greenland and Denmark. We are equal and we want to remain like that, and we stand together with those who stand behind us, like the European Union and NATO.”

Fellow protester Aviaq Brandt told the AP, “I’m here to put our flag in front of the Consulate for United States to show Donald Trump and to show the world that the only flag that belongs in Greenland is our flag.”

• Greenland is the world’s largest island that is not a continent. About 56,000 people live on the island, mostly in the 20 per cent of the land that is not covered by ice and snow.
• Greenland was ruled by Denmark from the early 18th century until 1979, when it gained home rule. In 2009, Greenland gained more autonomy with the Self-Government Act, but Denmark still controls foreign, defence and security policies.
• Greenlanders make money through fishing, but sheep farming is also popular in the far south of the island. Greenland is finding ways to profit from the island’s mineral resources, including gold and natural gas.

US President Donald Trump said shortly before 2:30 a.m. GMT that America will be “well represented” at the World Economic Forum before heading to Davos, Switzerland.

“America will be well represented in Davos — by me. GOD BLESS YOU ALL! PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP”, the US president wrote on his social media platform Truth Social.

Donald Trump has announced plans to hit European nations, including the UK, with increasing tariffs if they continue to back Denmark over Greenland.

With Denmark and allies standing firm, Britain is set to be impacted by fresh 10 per cent tariffs on 1 February, rising to 25 per cent by June.

Rajan Lakhani, personal finance expert & Head of Money at smart money app Plum, said while businesses may have to swallow costs or raise prices to offset the levy, the biggest impact for UK consumers would be indirect.

“Tariffs tend to raise costs, and this could slow down further cuts to interest rates if inflation were to remain well above 2 per cent,” he said. “That would have a knock-on impact on mortgage holders. The general uncertainty will also likely mean the Bank of England may want to take a pause before acting.

“However, it’s worth reminding ourselves of the TACO moniker that was widely adopted last year – ‘Trump Always Chickens Out’ – after his proposed Liberation Day tariffs, which were soon reduced and shortened in scope after sending markets into a downward spiral.

“So there remains the possibility that such tariffs may not even go ahead.”

Donald Trump has made it known he wants his country to control Greenland, the territory that guards the Arctic and North Atlantic approaches to North America.

Here’s why Greenland is strategically important to Arctic security:

US television hosts have weighed in on the possibility of the Trump administration acquiring Greenland.

Fox News’ Jesse Watters said, “We have to secure Greenland. It will happen”.

“The United States always secures our interests, economically, militarily, either by force or purchase”, Watters said on Tuesday.

US President Donald Trump has tried to pressure a deal to buy Greenland through the threat of tariffs on several European nations, and he has also yet to rule out military force to acquire the semi-autonomous territory of Denmark.

But Watters’ co-host, Kayleigh McEnany, questioned whether the Republican White House’s ultimate goal is a “military takeover” of Greenland.

“I’m very skeptical that the ultimate goal…is to have a military takeover of Greenland and incorporate Greenland into the United States. Why? If Greenland became a state, they would get two Senate seats. Greenland is deeply, deeply leftist, socialist”, McEnany said. “That’s a political nightmare for Republicans”.

Denmark has planned to send up to 1,000 troops to Greenland this year as US President Donald Trump bolsters his threats to acquire the semi-autonomous territory, according to a new TV 2 report.

So far, Denmark has sent around 150 soldiers to Kangerlussuaq and roughly the same number to Nuuk, the Danish outlet said.