By Janet Ekstract. NEW YORK-According to sources familiar with the situation on Greenland, an emergency diplomatic intervention is expected to take place on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos. CNN was told by sources that top European officials plan to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump to present various alternatives to Trump’s plan on taking over Greenland. Tensions are high, to avert a major crisis, leaders in Europe and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte will meet with Trump to see what can be worked out. Trump announced that he plans to slap new tariffs on any ally that opposes his “complete and total control” of Greenland which has rattled not just Denmark, Greenland and European allies but even those in Trump’s inner circle.
A number of options are being reviewed including expanding existing treaties that would allow the U.S. to put military bases and other resources on the island, also adding commercial and economic agreements. This would include a signing ceremony that would allow Trump to showcase an accomplishment, according to sources. A different option being discussed is placing Greenland under a Compact of Free Association, allowing it to maintain its current status but still providing the U.S. expanded security access in exchange for financial assistance. Three other countries are under this agreement with the U.S. – Palau, the Marshall Islands and Federated States of Micronesia. Some leaders are looking at the renegotiation of the 1951 agreement between the U.S., Denmark and Greenland to state clearly that no Chinese investments in Greenland would be allowed.
Sources close to the talks have reported that some senior Trump administration officials have been working on a proposal over the past several weeks to purchase Greenland. Meanwhile, before Trump left on January 20 for Davos, he told reporters that he plans to get a deal that’s “very good for everybody” and that would make NATO “very happy.” NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte is expected to meet alone with Trump on the sidelines of the summit, sources said. The U.S. Supreme Court is currently examining the legality of Trump’s moves with regards to additional tariffs on European allies while Trump is finding ways to skirt the legal issues. Trump also sent a letter to Norway’s prime minister linking his not getting the Nobel Peace Prize to his efforts to acquire Greenland. On the second day of the Davos summit on January 20, a number of European leaders and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, defended Greenland and Denmark in speeches. Meanwhile, British Defense Secretary John Healey plans to be in Copenhagen on January 21 to meet Danish counterpart Troels Lund Poulsen. As Healey said: “The U.K. has always played a leading role in securing NATO’s northern flank in the Baltic and High North, and we will continue to do so alongside our allies.”
