Greener Outlook

As US President made the rounds at the World Economic Forum (WEF) he made a major statement on his ambition to control Greenland as we read in a report from Fox News:

After being asked by another reporter about what NATO Secretary Rutte had to say during their meeting, Trump simply referred to him as "a great leader" and "fantastic."

"The Secretary General was representing the other side, which is really us too, because, you know, we're a very important member of NATO," he said. "I've done a lot for NATO. And it's really nice. I mean, it's a deal that everybody's very happy with."

Greenland is a strategic piece of land:

NATO confirmed to Fox News Digital in a statement from Spokesperson Allison Hart that negotiations are aimed "at ensuring Russia and China never gain a foothold" in Greenland.

"The Secretary General had a very productive meeting with President Trump during which they discussed the critical significance of security in the Arctic region to all Allies, including the United States," Hart said in a statement.

And even the Arctic is on the table:

"Discussions among NATO Allies on the framework the President referenced will focus on ensuring Arctic security through the collective efforts of Allies, especially the seven Arctic Allies. Negotiations between Denmark, Greenland, and the United States will go forward aimed at ensuring that Russia and China never gain a foothold - economically or militarily - in Greenland," Hart added.

As should be expected, there is more work to be done:

"As President Trump said, the details of the framework will continue to be unveiled as discussions continue," White House Spokeswoman Anna Kelly said to Fox News Digital. "The White House has nothing more to add at this time."

In another Fox News article, we see how Trump played the right cards to get Europe to the table:

President Donald Trump said Wednesday he will not impose tariffs that were set to take effect Feb. 1, citing a "framework of a future deal" with NATO involving Greenland and the Arctic region.

And Trump states how he got these nations to listen as he only he can:

Trump said the deal, if finalized, "will be a great one for the United States of America, and all NATO Nations," adding that the agreement led him to halt the planned tariffs.

"Based upon this understanding, I will not be imposing the Tariffs that were scheduled to go into effect on February 1st," he said.

Part of this deal is a weapon defense system Trump floated previously:

Trump added that talks are continuing, saying, "Additional discussions are being held concerning The Golden Dome as it pertains to Greenland," and said Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff will lead negotiations and "report directly to me."

"The deal is going to be put out pretty soon, we'll see. It's right now a little bit in progress, but pretty far along," Trump said to reporters. "It gets us everything we need it to get."

The Art Of The Deal

Additionally, we’re told by Fox News that Trump can get the real estate deal of his life if he can pull this off:

President Donald J. Trump wants Greenland. Full title, ownership papers, and no, he’s not interested in a lease right now. "It's the United States alone that can protect this giant mass of land, this giant piece of ice," Trump said in his speech to the ritzy World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on Wednesday, Jan. 21. He appears one step closer to getting his wish.

Trump sarcastically said this and hours later he had the makings of a deal:

"I'm seeking immediate negotiations to once again to discuss the acquisition of Greenland by the United States," he told the leaders assembled at Davos. "It’s a small ask," he quipped.

Five hours later, Trump announced "the framework of a future deal" on Truth Social. No need to take a chainsaw to NATO. The tariff weapon worked again – and fast. Brokered by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, who said he already had a solution in the works, the framework was good enough for Trump to cancel the Feb. 1 tariffs he threatened to impose on NATO allies including Denmark and Britain.

This isn’t just another Trumpian power play like some see it:

Don’t be shocked by Trump’s tactics. There’s smart thinking behind Trump’s bid for Greenland. The post-1945 world order shunned boundary changes. Trump sees it differently. "This enormous, unsecured island is actually part of North America," Trump said. The U.S. hasn’t done a major land deal since Spanish-American War of 1898, and the last purchase was the Marshall Islands in 1947.

So it’s not like the US hasn’t purchased territories before but he’ll do it peacefully:

"I won’t use force," Trump assured the audience. Of course not. Trump won’t stoop to the illegal seizure tactics of Russian President Vladimir Putin. He’s not going to steal Greenland. The last thing he wants is paratroopers in Arctic gear dropping into Greenland.  

And speaking of Russia, this deal has major defense implications as hinted at earlier:

Outright acquisition of Greenland for the USA would be the #1 real estate deal of Trump’s career. However, Trump’s primary motive, wisely, is national security. The territory of Greenland is a genuine, urgent concern. "Those missiles would be flying right over the center of that piece of ice," he said, adding that U.S. ownership is vital to "keep our very energetic and dangerous potential enemies at bay."  

On strategic grounds, Trump is right. Russia’s formidable new Yasen-class nuclear submarines, based on the Kola peninsula, can launch Kalibr and Oniks missiles, and the new hypersonic Zirkon missile. Russian bombers and anti-submarine planes are active – just ask the Norwegians, who intercepted Russian planes yet again on Jan. 6. Chinese ships and submarines are prowling around, too.  

President Trump has no doubt been briefed on things:

You can just imagine the scary briefing charts Deputy Secretary of Defense Stephen Feinberg and others are showing Trump as they lay out the architecture for Golden Dome.

Classic Trump

The man who literally wrote the book on deals really wants this to happen:

The buyer is "highly motivated," as the real estate agents say. So here comes the art of the deal. At Davos, Trump unleashed every real estate tactic from threats to pleas to scoffing at the value of this "big, beautiful piece of ice."

Trump was in rare form as he laid out his case as he undersold Greenland:

As you’d expect when preparing for negotiations, Trump proceeded to run down the commercial value of Greenland’s critical mineral resources. He called Greenland "a piece of ice, cold and poorly located." Trump also criticized the current owner, Denmark, for failing to invest and maintain the place. According to Trump, Denmark pledged an additional $200 million for Greenland’s defenses back in 2019 but didn’t deliver. All those are classic real estate tactics.

Then he appealed to their senses:

Then there was the emotional appeal. After decades of security presence in Europe, "we’ve never gotten anything" from NATO, Trump said. "All we're asking for is to get Greenland, including right, title and ownership," Trump whined. Switching gears, he pointed out that a U.S. takeover would be a good deal for NATO. U.S. ownership of Greenland "would greatly enhance the security of the entire alliance," Trump offered.

Trump was quick to mention that the US protected the land before:

To be sure, he loves the history. Trump described how the U.S. saved Greenland from Nazi Germany (which is true). Then the U.S. Army Air Forces ran ferry routes to England for B-17 bombers, P-38 Lightning fighters, C-47 cargo transports and many other warplanes via airfields on Greenland. Trump is sorry Democrat President Harry S. Truman gave it back after World War II.

Unlike his personal business deals, this one is not meant to make money primarily:

Yet this is no imperialist or mercantilist grab. Trump does not want to make money off Greenland; on the contrary, he wants to spend it. On (the)Golden Dome. And all the P-8 anti-submarine warfare planes and other assets to defend Greenland.

The US President then buttered up his trade partner:

Trump likes Rutte and called him "great" at Davos. Rutte, who was prime minister of the Netherlands, now has to find a way to give Trump a stake in Greenland. It may take a treaty, a joint venture, a defense compact, or a flag-planting real estate deal, but there’s no going back. Trump at Davos made clear that his continued enthusiasm for Ukraine and NATO depends on securing legal access to Greenland in order to improve U.S. defenses.

It's not a done deal just yet, but in less than 24 hours no one is calling this move a fairy tale:

Let the negotiations begin.

Indeed.