Davos Braces for Greenland Showdown After Trump Posts

SPEAKER_1 (0:00)

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Caitlin McCabe (0:18)

President Trump doubles down on his plans to acquire Greenland ahead of expected meetings at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Marcus Walker (0:26)

Even if a compromise is found on the Greenland issue, things will never be the same. A line has been crossed here because of Trump's willingness really to consider all options, including force, against the U.S.'s own allies.

Caitlin McCabe (0:37)

Plus, we take a look at why Trump's Greenland-inspired tear of salvo isn't fully rattling markets. And what time should you be waking up in the morning? It's not quite as straightforward as you think. It's Tuesday, January 20th. I'm Caitlin McCabe for The Wall Street Journal, and here's the AM Edition of What's News. The top headlines and business stories moving your world today. President Trump has fired off a series of Truth Social posts reiterating his plans for Greenland and telling reporters that the US is the only country that can ensure peace.

SPEAKER_4 (1:14)

Well, I don't think they're going to push back too much.

Marcus Walker (1:16)

Look, we have to have it.

Caitlin McCabe (1:18)

They have to have this done.

SPEAKER_4 (1:20)

They can't protect it.

Caitlin McCabe (1:21)

The posts follow days of escalating tensions over the territory and with a subject set to take center stage as world leaders gather in Davos, Switzerland. There, the president has agreed to meet with Mark Ruta, the secretary general of NATO, and other parties to discuss Greenland. Trump also shared a screenshot of what appeared to be a text message with French president Emmanuel Macron, which read, quote, We are totally in line on Syria. We can do great things on Iran. I do not understand what you are doing on Greenland. It comes after a French government spokesperson yesterday said the US was crossing a new threshold of coercion. That punctuated a day of hectic diplomacy, with Danish and Greenlandic officials meeting with Ruta and the UK government. Here's Danish Foreign Minister Lars Luka Rasmussen.

Lars Løkke Rasmussen (2:10)

It's so important that all our allies in the NATO alliance and the European Union stand up for these principles to show the American president, you have a desire, you have a vision, you have a request, but you will never be able to achieve that by putting pressure on us. That signal is of crucial importance in order to, I would say, to push the Americans back into the meeting room as we agreed last week.

Caitlin McCabe (2:38)

For more, we're joined by journal editor Marcus Walker. Marcus, you've been on the Greenland beat for a few days now. This is a fast developing story. Bring us up to speed on where we are this morning.

Marcus Walker (2:48)

Well, there has been a flurry of diplomacy, both in public and in private, between Trump and other White House officials and the European side. The Europeans are planning an emergency summit of European Union leaders on Thursday in Brussels. Before that, it's likely that Trump will meet some European leaders in Davos. Trump has said he will meet various parties without specifying whom at the World Economic Forum, after which it remains completely unclear whether Trump will go ahead with his threat to impose tariffs on some European countries from the 1st of February and whether it will escalate or whether some solution will be found in the meantime. It's clear from the communications in the last few hours or overnight that Trump is not backing down from his demand that the US should own Greenland and should take it over completely. Even though Trump said that he had a good conversation with NATO Secretary General Mark Ritter, he emphasized that he wants, he needs to own Greenland in his view. And at the same time, Trump has said further critical things about other European allies. He criticized the UK for giving away Chagos, even though Trump had previously approved that move. And he threatened France with 200% tariffs on French wine and champagne, unless Macron agrees to join Trump's Board of Peace for Gaza. So the tensions and the mixed messages are continuing. On the one hand, conversations are happening. On the other hand, he continues to take a very dim view of European allies and maintain his demand about Greenland.

Caitlin McCabe (4:14)

LESLIE KENDRICK Marcus, you've got a great story out along with the Journal's David Lunault about the collapse of trust between European leaders and the US and how that's now forcing Europe to reassess its reliance on Washington.