Trump Plans for ‘Total Access’ to Greenland Under NATO Framework

White House announcement comes after the President reversed plans to impose heavy tariffs on European countries opposed to the expansion of U.S. Arctic territory.

The White House.

White House announcement comes after the President reversed plans to impose heavy tariffs on European countries opposed to the expansion of U.S. Arctic territory.

The United States is negotiating a deal to secure “total access” to Greenland, President Donald Trump told Fox Business on Thursday, January 22.

Speaking to host Maria Bartiromo, Trump emphasized the strategic importance of the territory, citing its role in national security and Arctic operations.

Noting that technological advancements now make a U.S. presence more valuable than during Ronald Reagan’s era, Trump asserted

Everything comes over Greenland. If the bad guys start shooting, it comes over Greenland.

When pressed on whether this involved an acquisition of Greenland, Trump clarified that discussions were ongoing. The announcement follows his decision to back down on earlier threats to impose heavy tariffs on European countries, after talks with NATO secretary general Mark Rutte. Trump said the U.S. and NATO had reached a “framework for a future deal” covering Greenland, adding

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

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.