German chancellor Friedrich Merz on Thursday welcomed U.S. president Donald Trump’s decision to step back from threats to seize Greenland by force, calling it “the right way to go.”
Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Merz emphasized that any attempt to acquire European territory by force would be unacceptable. He also stressed that new tariffs would undermine transatlantic relations, and that Europe’s response would be “united…measured and firm.”
Trump had previously threatened to impose new tariffs on Germany and other European countries supporting Greenland. Trump backed down on threats to seize Greenland by force after meeting NATO chief Mark Rutte on Wednesday, saying he had reached a “framework” of a deal on the Danish territory.
Merz welcomed the move but underlined that NATO allies must remain vigilant about Arctic security and Russia’s presence in the region, stating
We share the conviction that as European NATO allies, we must do more.
However, Denmark clarified that NATO cannot “cannot negotiate an agreement on behalf of Denmark or Greenland.” Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen stated that “only Denmark and Greenland themselves can make decisions on issues concerning Denmark and Greenland.”
The U.S. and Denmark will renegotiate the 1951 defense pact covering Greenland, but placing U.S. military bases under American sovereignty was not discussed.
