President Donald Trump on Wednesday said he and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte have “formed the framework of a future deal with respect to Greenland” and as a result he will not be imposing the tariffs he threatened on European allies who didn’t agree to his takeover efforts.<\/p>\n
“Based upon a very productive meeting that I have had with the Secretary General of NATO, Mark Rutte, we have formed the framework of a future deal with respect to Greenland and, in fact, the entire Arctic Region,” Trump wrote in a social media post.<\/p>\n
“This solution, if consummated, will be a great one for the United States of America, and all NATO Nations. Based upon this understanding, I will not be imposing the Tariffs that were scheduled to go into effect on February 1st,” the president added.<\/p>\n
His post did not provide further details on the “framework” for Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of NATO ally Denmark.<\/p>\n
Trump continued to be light on specifics during interviews with CNBC and CNN, particularly on whether the U.S. would have ownership of Greenland as he’s demanded.<\/p>\n
“Well, we have a concept of a deal. I think it’s going to be very good deal for the United States, also for them, and\u00a0we’re going to work together on something having to do with the Arctic as a whole, but also Greenland, and it has to do with the security, great security, strong security and other things,” Trump said\u00a0on CNBC.<\/p>\n
When pressed on whether U.S. ownership of Greenland was involved, Trump said he “didn’t want to say yet” and it was “complex.”<\/p>\n
On CNN, Trump said the U.S. got “everything we wanted.”<\/p>\n
“It’s the ultimate long-term deal, and I think it puts everybody in a really good position, especially as it pertains to security and minerals and everything else,” Trump said.<\/p>\n
He also told CNN the deal would be “infinite,” saying: “It’s a deal that’s forever.”\u00a0<\/p>\n
![\"America\"](\"https:\/\/i.abcnewsfe.com\/a\/65da1fe2-c7e4-4de1-bcb3-9cb8a72aed11\/donald-trump-4-gty-gmh-260121_1769005144350_hpMain.jpg?w=375 "\\"America\\"")
<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>President Donald Trump gives a speech at the World Economic Forum January 21, 2026 in Davos, Switzerland.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Chip Somodevilla\/Getty Images<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Earlier Wednesday, while speaking at the world Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Trump notably ruled out using military force<\/a> to take control of Greenland.<\/p>\n “We probably won’t get anything unless I decide to use excessive strength and force where we would be, frankly, unstoppable.\u00a0But I won’t do that,” Trump said in his remarks.<\/p>\n Still, Trump argued no other country can defend Greenland but the United States and said he wanted “immediate negotiations” on the issue.<\/p>\n “All we’re asking for is to get Greenland, including right, title and ownership, because you need the ownership to defend it. You can’t defend it on a lease. No. 1, legally it’s not defensible that way, totally. And No. 2, psychologically, who the hell wants to defend a license agreement or a lease which is a large piece of ice in the middle of the ocean, where, if there is a war, much of the action will take place on that piece of ice,” Trump said.<\/p>\n As part of his Greenland push, Trump last week announced a new 10% tariff rate against eight European nations would go into effect next month. Those levies would later be increased to 25% until the U.S. is able to purchase Greenland, the president said.<\/p>\n Those threats resulted in European officials on Wednesday suspending a trade agreement<\/a> with the U.S. worked out last summer.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n