Trump Says Greenland Tariff Threat Dropped After Framework Deal Talks With NATO

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that he will no longer impose threatened tariffs on Denmark and several European allies, saying a framework for a future deal on Greenland and the wider Arctic region has been reached.

In a social media post following a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Trump said the understanding covered Greenland and broader Arctic security concerns. Based on that development, he said tariffs of up to 25 percent which were due to take effect on February 1 would not be implemented. The levies had been aimed at Denmark and other European countries, including France, Britain and Germany, that deployed troops to Greenland in solidarity with Copenhagen.

Trump did not provide specific details of the framework agreement but described it as a “long-term deal” that satisfied his demands. Speaking to reporters later, he said the arrangement placed all sides in a “really good position,” particularly on issues related to security and mineral resources. His comments appeared to ease earlier rhetoric in which he had not ruled out the use of force to take control of Greenland.

NATO chief Mark Rutte later clarified that Greenland’s sovereignty was not discussed during the talks, noting that NATO has no authority over the territory’s political status. European diplomats welcomed Trump’s softer tone, saying it helped defuse tensions between allies, even though key disagreements remain unresolved.

It is still unclear how any agreement could meet Trump’s previous calls for U.S. “ownership” of Greenland, which both Denmark and Greenland have firmly rejected. A NATO spokesperson said further negotiations between Denmark, Greenland and the United States would focus on preventing Russia and China from gaining economic or military influence on the island.

In Greenland, reactions have been cautious. Authorities have reportedly begun distributing crisis preparedness brochures, while Greenlandic lawmaker Aaja Chemnitz criticized any suggestion that NATO could negotiate over the island’s mineral resources, stressing: “Nothing about us without us.”