Trump hits out at Nato and Europe as he doubles down on calls for for Greenland: ‘All I want is a piece of ice’ | EUROtoday

US president Donald Trump has launched a recent assault on Nato and Europe as he doubled down on his calls for for Greenland – however backed down on utilizing pressure.

In a unprecedented speech on the World Economic Forum in Davos, he stated he wished instant talks to debate buying the Danish territory, however vowed he would “not use force” to grab it.

The more and more risky president hit out at Nato, claiming the US has “never gotten anything” from being a part of the alliance and arguing {that a} US takeover of Greenland is “a very small ask” in contrast with what his nation has completed for its fellow members.

“Now what I’m asking for is a piece of ice, cold and poorly located, that can play a vital role in world peace and world protection,” he stated.

Mr Trump additionally launched a stinging assault on Europe, claiming it was “unrecognisable” attributable to immigration – echoing a trope repeated by the European and American far proper.

His remarks will additional gasoline tensions between Europe and Washington over the Danish territory as Nato leaders try to stop a diplomatic disaster.

Hours later, Trump rowed again on his risk to slap tariffs on the UK and Nato allies who opposed his ambitions to annex Greenland and stated he and the alliance’s chief “formed the framework of a future deal” for the Arctic area.

Following a “very productive meeting” with Nato secretary normal Mark Rutte on the fringes of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Mr Trump recommended he had now reconsidered and would scrap plans for brand new 10% tariffs on eight Nato nations, together with the UK, because of their opposition to his ambitions for the mineral-rich territory.

On his Truth Social platform, the US president stated: “We have formed the framework of a future deal with respect to Greenland and, in fact, the entire Arctic Region. 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.”

Mr Trump additionally recommended there had been talks on making a missile defence system to keep off potential assaults by Russia and China from throughout the Arctic, one thing which he had dubbed the “Golden Dome”.

It comes after Sir Keir Starmer used his most hostile language but to push again towards the US president, saying he “will not yield” in his stance over Greenland as he vowed to face as much as Mr Trump over his threats to annexe it.

Speaking at Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) on Wednesday, Sir Keir additionally hit out on the US president’s criticism of the UK’s deal to cede the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, and stated his change in stance – calling the deal an act of “great stupidity” – was made expressly to stress him over Greenland.

In his rambling Davos tackle, Mr Trump stated that the US was “the only country” that might safe the island that he claims is required for US nationwide safety functions.

“Unless I decide to use excessive strength and force, where we would be frankly unstoppable. That is the biggest statement I’ve made. I don’t want to use force, I don’t have to use force, I won’t use force,” he stated.

Mr Trump stated he was “helping Europe, I’m helping Nato” along with his efforts to safe a Ukraine peace deal and urged his allies to alter their opposition to a US takeover of Greenland.

He continued: “It’s a very small ask compared to what we have given them for many, many decades. But the problem with Nato is that we’ll be there for them 100 per cent, but I’m not sure that they’d be there for us.”

The US president reiterated his need to ascertain a “Golden Dome” of missile defences, a system that Mr Trump proposes would have its periphery in Greenland.

“All we want from Denmark, for national and international security and to keep our very energetic and dangerous potential enemies at bay, is this land on which we’re going to build the greatest golden dome ever built,” he stated.

Taking intention at Europe for “unchecked mass migration”, Mr Trump claimed the continent is importing “entirely different populations from faraway lands”.

He stated: “Certain places in Europe are not even recognisable, frankly, anymore. They’re not recognisable. And I love Europe, and I want to see Europe go good, but it’s not heading in the right direction.”

“Between immigration and energy – if they don’t change, bad things will happen to them,” he added.

Mr Trump additionally appeared to misname Greenland, whereas making a weird remark about being known as “daddy”.

“I’m helping Europe. I’m helping Nato, and until the last few days, when I told them about Iceland, they loved me.

“They called me daddy. A very smart man said, ‘He’s our daddy, he’s running it’. But now what I’m asking for is a piece of ice, cold and poorly located,” he stated.

Earlier within the day, Sir Keir laid out his place on the US president’s feedback on Greenland within the strongest attainable phrases, telling MPs at PMQs: “I will not yield, Britain will not yield on our principles and values about the future of Greenland under threats of tariffs, and that is my clear position.”

He additionally known as out Mr Trump’s criticism of the UK’s Chagos deal, saying they “were different to his previous words of welcome and support when I met him in the White House”.

“He deployed those words yesterday for the express purpose of putting pressure on me and Britain in relation to my values and principles on the future of Greenland,” Sir Keir stated.

“He wants me to yield on my position, and I’m not going to do so.”

The US president has threatened to hit Britain and different European allies with 10 per cent tariffs from 1 February until they comply with his buy of Greenland – a risk the prime minister has decried as “completely wrong”.

In a uncommon second of disagreement with Mr Trump, whom he considers “a friend”, Reform UK chief Nigel Farage known as out his feedback about Nato, saying Britain has “more than done our bit” for the alliance.

Speaking in Davos following Mr Trump’s speech, Mr Farage stated: “He said Nato have never given us anything back. I would object to that politely by saying this: when the decision was made to go into Afghanistan, we went in with America and the coalition of the willing.

“We stayed by America for the whole 20 years, we proportionately spent the same money as America, we lost the same number of lives as America pro rata, and the same applies actually to Denmark and other countries too.

“So it’s not quite fair. Yes, in money terms, America has provided more. In terms of surveillance equipment et cetera, America still provides more, but we have, when it comes to honouring our commitments to America, more than done our bit in terms of action over the last 20 years.”