Donald Trump backed down from threats of tariffs and using military force against Greenland yesterday, saying he had agreed to the ‘framework of a future deal’.
After a whirlwind 72 hours at Davos – where quite a few leaders warned in regards to the death of the post-war world order – Trump appeared to have performed a dramatic U-turn.
‘I feel it’s a very good deal for everyone…it’s a deal that everyone’s very completely satisfied with,’ he told reporters in a corridor on the World Economic Forum meeting.
However the precise details of this ‘concept of a deal’ remain unclear.
One diplomatic source told Sky News that there was no ‘framework yet’.
The unnamed official believed that the US president was just on the lookout for an ‘off-ramp’ after getting himself right into a sticky and unpopular diplomatic tangle.
Nevertheless, some early indications of what the deal could appear to be are emerging.
And evidently Trump should still have some maneuvering up his sleeve, amid reports he could offer Greenland’s 57,000 people $1 million (£750,000) each.
‘Greenland’s sovereignty isn’t up for negotiation’
Trump’s claims to have established a future deal ‘framework’ got here after his meeting with Mark Rutte, Nato’s secretary general.
Rutte says he didn’t propose, and even discuss, any compromise on Greenland’s sovereignty during their discussion.
Mette Frederiksen, the Danish prime minister, has reiterated this stance.
‘We cannot negotiate on our sovereignty. I even have been informed that this has not been the case,’ she said.
If Trump has agreed to Greenland’s sovereignty, it could represent a big climbdown, given he’d previously refused to rule out annexation.
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‘Arctic sentry’ to be established
There’s now talk of an ‘Arctic sentry’, which appears to be a bolstered, Nato-led security arrangement for Greenland.
Greenland is strategically crucial, and growing more so attributable to climate change.
Trump has meanwhile talked up the danger of Chinese and Russian military influence within the Arctic.
Yvette Cooper, the UK foreign secretary, compared the proposed ‘Arctic Sentry’ to Nato’s ‘Baltic Sentry’, launched in January last 12 months.
That was an agreement to deploy warships, drones, maritime patrol aircraft, and advanced surveillance systems within the region to discourage Russian aggression.
Why Trump wants Greenland
Arctic security
Greenland sits within the Arctic Circle, where China and Russia have been jostling for military influence.
Greenland provides an outpost in a significant naval corridor connecting the Atlantic Ocean and the Arctic.
Icecaps melting attributable to climate change mean the once nearly unnavigable ocean is becoming more spacious, opening up recent shipping routes.
Rare resources and minerals
Stacks of rare resources are buried deep inside Greenland, with 31 out of 34 materials that Europe sees as ‘critical’ found there.
In addition to cobalt, nickel, copper and titanium-vanadium, the island is wealthy in gold, platinum and diamonds.
Many metals are used to make batteries, electric vehicles and other high-tech items. It might also have pools of oil and gas.
Nevertheless, the US might be allowed to determine ‘sovereign bases’ on Greenland as a part of the arrangement, The Telegraph reported.
This might be much like the UK’s agreement with Cyprus, which implies some British bases on the island are considered British territory.
Trump also said talks were ongoing concerning a US missile defence shield that may be partially based in Greenland.
Britain and Norway backed the concept of an ‘Arctic Sentry’ last week.
Direct discussions to proceed
When Danish and Greenlandic foreign ministers met Trump’s team last week, they agreed to establish a ‘working group’ to seek out a compromise.
That hope was to return to an agreement that satisfied US concerns, and Greenland’s territorial integrity.
Plans to determine this ‘working group’ have been reaffirmed, with Trump reportedly selecting the American participants of the group.
Danish foreign minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen looked as if it would think this was progress in the proper direction.
‘The day ended higher than it began,’ he said. ‘Now, let’s sit down and learn the way we are able to address the American security concerns within the Arctic while respecting the red lines of the Kingdom of Denmark,’ he said.
More work to be done
Nato appears to have gained some respiratory space after a white-knuckle ride through Washington’s torrent of threats this past week.
The specter of additional 10% tariffs on Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands and Finland is off the table.
And fears of a US military invasion have been tempered.
‘I don’t wish to use force. I won’t use force. All the US is asking for is a spot called Greenland,’ he told the World Economic Forum meeting in a rambling speech stuffed with spurious claims.
But European leaders are keen to indicate there’s no clear conclusion in sight yet.
The Dutch prime minister, Dick Schoof, branded Trump’s decision to waive threatened tariffs against European allies an indication of ‘de-escalation’.
Italy’s prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, welcomed the newest development, but said there remained ‘quite a lot of work to be done’.
Meanwhile, the US president is mulling over offering $1 million to every of Greenland’s residents in a bid to persuade them to vote to vary their allegiance, in accordance with the Day by day Mail.
That will cost the US treasury a staggering $57 billion (£42 billion).
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