Donald Trump delivered a blistering speech in Davos.
Donald Trump branded Denmark and Greenland “ungrateful” during his speech in Davos.
During his speech at the World Economic Forum, the US President also said “without us, you’d be speaking German and Japanese perhaps”. Trump also went on to say: “I have tremendous respect for the people of Greenland and Denmark, but every Nato members has the obligation to defend their own territory. Only the US can defend it [Greenland].”
“We literally set up bases in Greenland for Denmark, we were fighting for Denmark, but we saved Greenland and prevented our enemies from getting it. Greenland is a vast, almost uninhabitated piece of ice. It’s in a key, strategic location between the US, China, and Russia.”
In his fresh attacks on European allies, during which he called Denmark “ungrateful,” he also said the US’s post-Second World War decision to “give Greenland back to Denmark” was “stupid”.
Donald Trump at Davos (Image: Getty)
After his repeated threats to annex Greenland, Trump added: “We need it [Greenland] for strategic national security and international security. The island is part of North America, it is our territory. It is the US alone that can protect this great piece of ice and make it that it is safe and good for Europe.
“I am seeking immediate negotiations to discuss the acquisition of this territory, just as we have acquired many other territories throughout our history, as many of the European nations have”. He maintained that “this would not be a threat to Nato,” but it “would greatly enhance the security of the alliance”.
In his speech, however, Trump also ruled out taking Greenland with military intervention. “We probably won’t get anything unless I decide to use excessive strength and force, where we would be, frankly, unstoppable. But I won’t do that. I don’t have to use force, I don’t want to use force, I won’t use force.”
The US President also said he wants a “strong and united West”. He said: “Economic growth must be a central concern to see a strong and united West. We want Europe to be strong.”
Trump also warned he “will remember” if Denmark and Greenland do not give into his demands. He said: “We want a piece of ice for world protection, and they won’t give it. We’ve never asked for anything else and we could have kept that piece of land and we didn’t. So they have a choice: you can say yes and we will be very appreciative, or you can say no and we will remember.”
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