Donald Trump announces a NATO framework deal on Greenland and Arctic security at Davos, linking alliance defence cooperation, suspended US tariffs, economic leverage, and long-term strategic control of the Arctic amid growing global competition.
US President Donald Trump has signalled what he described as a major diplomatic breakthrough with NATO on Greenland and wider Arctic security, framing the development as part of a broader reset of transatlantic relations and alliance burden-sharing. The announcement came during a high-profile series of engagements at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where Trump combined security messaging with economic leverage and trade signals.
In a social media post issued from Davos on Wednesday local time, Trump said he had reached a “framework of a future deal” with NATO following what he called a highly productive meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. According to Trump, the understanding covers Greenland and extends to the entire Arctic region, a strategically sensitive area that has gained renewed importance amid rising global competition.
“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. He added that if the arrangement is finalised, it would benefit both the United States and all NATO members.
Significantly, Trump linked the security understanding to economic concessions, announcing that scheduled US tariffs due to take effect on February 1 would be suspended in light of the emerging agreement. The move underscored Trump’s long-standing approach of blending security commitments with trade and economic pressure to extract concessions from allies.
Trump later elaborated on the proposal in an interview with CNBC, saying the sides had reached a “concept of a deal” focused on collective cooperation in the Arctic. “I think it’s going to be a very good deal for the United States, also for them, and we’re going to work together on something having to do with the Arctic as a whole, but also Greenland,” he said.
When questioned about whether the arrangement implied ownership or long-term control over Greenland, Trump avoided direct legal definitions but said the deal would last “forever.” He compared it favourably to previous international agreements that were time-bound, suggesting the framework would represent a more permanent security alignment.
At a bilateral meeting with Rutte on the sidelines of the forum, Trump argued that Greenland’s importance was rooted in defence rather than economics. “I want Greenland for security, I don’t want it for anything else,” he said, emphasising that the real cost at stake was “the price of safety and security and national security and international security.”
Rutte, for his part, publicly reinforced NATO’s commitment to collective defence, addressing concerns that Trump has previously raised about alliance reliability. “If ever the US would be under attack, your allies will be with you. Absolutely, there’s an absolute guarantee,” the NATO chief said.
Rutte also credited Trump with reshaping NATO’s defence posture, noting that alliance members had significantly increased defence spending. He described NATO as “stronger than ever” and said Trump’s push for higher contributions had driven spending levels toward five per cent of GDP among allies.
Trump further linked Greenland to his proposed “Golden Dome” missile defence initiative, arguing that incorporating the Arctic territory would strengthen missile defence coverage for both Europe and North America. He described the project as “safer, stronger, better for Europe and better for us,” reinforcing his view that Arctic geography is central to future security planning.
Alongside security discussions, Trump repeatedly highlighted US economic performance as a key source of leverage. He described the American economy as “the hottest country anywhere in the world,” citing strong growth, rising investment inflows and revenue generated through tariffs. “The USA is the economic engine on the planet,” Trump said, adding that global prosperity follows American economic expansion.
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He also claimed NATO allies were now paying more for their own defence and purchasing American military equipment, while US trade policies were encouraging companies to relocate production back to the United States. “We’re taking in tremendous money from tariffs fairly,” Trump said.
Greenland, an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, occupies a strategically vital Arctic position between North America and Europe. The United States has maintained military installations there for decades, and successive US administrations have increasingly viewed Arctic access as critical amid intensifying geopolitical rivalry. Trump’s latest remarks signal that Greenland and Arctic security may now take centre stage in NATO’s evolving strategic agenda.
