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How a ‘misunderstanding’ over Greenland may have sparked diplomatic chaos | World News
The situation between the US and European allies over Greenland looks at risk of boiling over after an explosive few days.
A handful of military personnel have landed on the icy territory over the past week, variously described as an exercise or an effort to show Donald Trump they are serious about the Arctic security he appears to be so keen on.
But the US president, fresh off his involvement in Venezuela, seems to have been confused or misinformed about the purpose of the mission, threatening tariffs on the countries involved.
With the stability and future of the NATO alliance at risk, how did we get here?
Wednesday, 14 January: European mission to Greenland announced
Let’s circle back to last Wednesday before all the talk of tariffs kicked off.
President Trump takes to his Truth Social platform in the morning to reiterate his demands that the US have Greenland “for the purpose of national security” to stop Russia or China taking it.
“Anything less than that is unacceptable,” he says.
It comes as Danish and Greenlandic ministers arrive at the White House to meet with vice president JD Vance and secretary of state Marco Rubio.
Live updates: US won’t use force to take Greenland, Trump tells Davos – but would be ‘unstoppable’ if it did
Danish military personnel in Greenland last year. Pic: Reuters
Denmark’s foreign minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen says there was a “frank but also constructive discussion” but that a “fundamental disagreement” remained.
As the meeting was about to take place, Greenland’s government announces that Danish armed forces will expand their presence on the world’s largest island.
Denmark’s defence minister says the upcoming joint operation will involve several allied countries, warning that “no one can predict what will happen tomorrow”.
Germany says the deployment of troops will take place from 15-17 January and is designed to explore how best to support Denmark in ensuring Arctic security.
Thursday, 15 January: Troops begin to arrive
European troops begin arriving in Greenland, with personnel from France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden making their way there.
Denmark says the operation will “strengthen our ability to operate in the area”.
US press secretary Karoline Leavitt says European troops won’t affect President Trump’s decision on acquiring the territory.
Greenlanders protest outside the US consulate in Nuuk. Pic: Reuters
He’s far from the first US politician to contemplate the idea of possessing Greenland.
Back in the 19th century, secretary of state William H Seward floated the idea of purchasing Greenland and Iceland from Denmark.
And in 1946, following the Second World War, President Harry Truman offered Denmark $100m in gold for Greenland – a deal which the Danes declined.
Friday, 16 January: Confusion over deployment to Greenland
Confusion grows over the purpose of the European troop deployment to Greenland as the weekend approaches.
Pictures including a Royal Danish Air Force C-130J aircraft landing in the capital, Nuuk, spread on social media prompting discussion online.
A Royal Danish Air Force plane at Nuuk airport. Pic: Reuters
A US official tells The Times newspaper it wasn’t clear if this was a deployment, an exercise or merely a “symbolic gesture”.
They add it should have been made clear it was not about defending Greenland from the US.
It’s on Friday that the president issues his threat to put tariffs on countries that do not support his ambition to control Greenland.
Asked whether the US would pull out of NATO if it didn’t help him acquire it, he responds: “We’re gonna see.”
Saturday, 17 January: Threat of tariffs
Things start to heat up – fast.
President Trump posts on Truth Social that he will implement a wave of tariffs on European countries – including the UK – until the US is allowed to purchase Greenland.
On the subject of the small number of European troops on the island, he accuses countries of playing a “dangerous game” by sending military personnel to Greenland.
He says troops were deployed there “for reasons unknown” as he singled countries out for tariff retaliation.
Denmark’s foreign minister seems to try to calm the waters, saying: “The purpose of the increased military presence in Greenland, to which the president refers, is to enhance security in the Arctic.
“We agree with the US that we need to do more since the Arctic is no longer a low tension area.”
Trying to avert a full crisis over Greenland and the tariffs, European Union ambassadors are summoned for an emergency meeting in Brussels.
Sunday, 18 January: Starmer and Meloni try to clear up ‘misunderstanding’
The Netherlands’s foreign minister says the threat to impose tariffs on European allies over the issue is tantamount to “blackmail”.
France’s Emmanuel Macron is ready to request the activation of the EU’s anti-coercion instrument in the event of tariffs, according to French media.
Meanwhile, German troops leave Greenland after finishing their three-day visit (a day later than originally announced) – not because of the tariffs threat as was suggested on social media.
Trump and Meloni last year. Pic: Reuters
Sir Keir Starmer, who has toed a delicate line in his relationship with President Trump over the past year, says it is “completely wrong” to put tariffs on the UK and European countries “for pursuing the collective security of NATO allies”.
Sky News’ Mark Stone reports the UK prime minister held a “short and cordial” call with the US leader.
Sir Keir seeks to use the conversation to persuade the president he had misinterpreted the European troop deployment to Greenland.
Starmer has been careful to cultivate a good relationship with Trump. Pic: Reuters
“I’m told that Donald Trump conceded to Keir Starmer in their Sunday phone call that he may have been misinformed about the motivation for deploying European troops to Greenland,” says Stone.
“The president, I’m told, thanked the prime minister for the information.”
Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also seeks to reach across the Atlantic. She says the White House may have misunderstood the military exercise and not realised it was directed against Russia and China and not the US.
Mr Trump has been posting about the issue on his Truth Social platform
Monday, 19 January: Incendiary letter from Trump to Norway PM
The UK prime minister and his team are left trying to work out if Sir Keir’s intervention would cause President Trump to back down.
“As before, we’re taking a deep breath and using relationships to figure out exactly where the US are before reacting to every social media post,” one figure involved tells Sky News’ Beth Rigby.
But the big news of the day comes in an extraordinary message to Norway’s prime minister, in which President Trump links the decision not to give him the Nobel Peace Prize with his bid to take over Greenland.
“I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of peace,” he says in the letter.
Tuesday, 20 January: Trump turns on UK over Chagos Islands deal
President Trump speaks to reporters in Florida before flying back to Washington DC, saying that Denmark “can’t protect” Greenland.
“They’re wonderful people,” Trump says of the Danes, “but they don’t even go there”.
He reveals he’s had a “very good telephone call” with NATO chief Mark Rutte about Greenland and agreed to meet “various parties” at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
Things then take a turn in a Truth Social post later in which he lambasts the UK for its Chagos Islands deal – a deal he previously endorsed.
Meanwhile, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen says the tariffs are a mistake as she promised an Arctic security package.
The bloc’s foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas is clear in her assessment: “No country has the right to take over territory of another, not in Ukraine, not in Greenland.”
President Trump, asked how far he would go to acquire Greenland, responds: “You’ll find out.”
Wednesday, 21 January: ‘It’s a very small ask’
President Trump arrives in Davos, where perhaps European leaders are hoping they’ll be able to get through to him about Greenland and NATO.
If that’s the case, they are likely to be sorely disappointed.
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In a speech, the US leader says there’s “nothing wrong” with seeking to acquire Greenland.
“What I’m asking for is a piece of ice, cold and poorly located, that can play a vital role in world peace,” he says, adding that it’s a “very small ask”.
He goes on to say: “The problem for NATO is that we’ll be there for them 100% but I’m not sure they’d be there for us.”
President Trump then declares the US “won’t use force” to take Greenland, despite saying his military would be “unstoppable”.
