President Donald Trump has said he no longer plans to impose tariffs on European countries that had opposed his ambitions for the US to acquire Greenland.
In a social media post, Trump said his decision followed a very productive meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
This solution, if consummated, will be a great one for the United States of America, and all NATO Nations, he wrote.
Trump told CNBC that the deal, which he said would last forever, could involve mineral rights and the planned Golden Dome missile defense system.
Announcing his decision on Truth Social, Trump said more information would be made available as discussions progress and that Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff would report directly to him as negotiations proceed.
He had previously dismissed the idea of a lease agreement, emphasizing the importance of ownership over a lease.
It remains unclear how rare earth minerals figure into this equation, as Greenland possesses vast untapped reserves crucial for technologies ranging from mobile phones to electric vehicles.
Trump had initially threatened a 10% tariff on goods from the UK and a 25% increase leading up to June if a deal was not reached regarding Greenland. Similar tariffs were proposed for goods from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Finland.
In an earlier address at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump stated he was seeking immediate negotiations for Greenland, insisting, however, that he would not resort to forceful means to acquire it.
French President Emmanuel Macron criticized Trump's tariff threats, asserting their unacceptability and suggesting the EU consider retaliatory measures.
As former dialogues continue and new negotiations unfold, the geopolitical implications of Trump's intentions for Greenland are significant, with numerous alliances and economic factors at play.
