European Parliament President Metsola stated that Trump's shift in position is sufficient to support a vote on the EU-US parliamentary agreement, with a preliminary vote potentially taking place in the coming days. Greenland’s Prime Minister Nielsen emphasized that Greenland’s sovereignty and territorial integrity are “red lines,” and any agreements involving Greenland must be negotiated with respect for international law and involve both Greenland and Denmark. Trump stated that the United States would obtain “full access rights” to Greenland, which means it could “deploy whatever we need” in the region, but would not pay any fees for it.
Following President Trump's withdrawal of tariff threats against European allies, the European Parliament is expected to restart the voting process on the EU-US trade agreement, marking a turning point in transatlantic trade relations that had stalled over the Greenland issue. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister of Greenland's autonomous government emphasized the non-negotiable stance on sovereignty, highlighting significant divisions in this geopolitical game.
European Parliament President Metsola said on Thursday, January 22, in Brussels that Trump's shift in position was sufficient to support a vote on the EU-US agreement, with a preliminary vote potentially taking place within the next few days. Parliamentary approval is the final step required by the EU to bring the trade agreement into effect. This came just a day after lawmakers decided to indefinitely suspend the approval process, citing 'coercive' threats from Trump.
Trump dramatically reversed course on Wednesday, stating he would not impose tariffs on eight European countries scheduled to take effect on February 1. This decision followed his meeting with NATO Secretary General Rutte. Trump announced on social media that both parties had established a 'framework' for an agreement on future cooperation regarding Greenland and the Arctic region. Although details of the deal remain unclear, this reversal temporarily eased transatlantic tensions.
According to Xinhua News Agency, Trump said in an interview on Thursday, January 22, in Davos, Switzerland, that the United States was negotiating details related to the issue of Greenland and would gain 'full access rights' to Greenland, meaning the U.S. could 'deploy anything we need' in the region without paying any fees because 'we are talking about national and international security.' Trump added that the U.S. would deploy the 'Golden Dome' missile defense system in Greenland as its sole contribution.
According to Xinhua News Agency, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, Prime Minister of Greenland’s autonomous government, stated on Thursday that Greenland chose the Kingdom of Denmark, the EU, and NATO. Nielsen emphasized that Greenland's sovereignty and territorial integrity were 'red lines,' and any agreements involving Greenland must be negotiated with respect for international law and involve consultations with both Greenland and Denmark.
The European Parliament Prepares to Restart Voting Procedures
European Parliament President Metsola said before an emergency meeting of EU leaders on Thursday: 'This means we can move forward internally with the previously suspended EU-US trade agreement discussions. I will work with colleagues to push the relevant process forward.'
According to CCTV News on January 21, Bernd Lange, Chair of the European Parliament's Committee on International Trade, announced that day that the review of the EU-US trade agreement would be indefinitely frozen. Lange stated that it was impossible to proceed under normal circumstances given the threats to the EU’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. This decision marked a sharp deterioration in transatlantic relations.
According to CCTV, Trump announced on social media last Saturday, January 17, that he would impose a 10% tariff on imports from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, and Finland starting February 1, with the rate set to increase to 25% from June 1 until the relevant parties reached an agreement on the US achieving a 'complete and thorough purchase of Greenland.'
The trade agreement was finalized last July and partially implemented but has drawn widespread criticism in Europe. Under the agreement, the EU agreed to eliminate almost all tariffs on US products while accepting a 15% tariff imposed by the US on most EU products, as well as a 50% tariff on steel and aluminum.
Although the threat of additional tariffs imposed by Trump has been temporarily lifted, Lange warned against "a false sense of security," stating that "the next threat will surely come." He noted that more details on the Greenland agreement are needed "to determine how to proceed with the implementation of the EU-US trade agreement," and his committee will discuss the next steps next Monday.
Greenland's Prime Minister Reiterates Sovereignty Bottom Line
At a press conference on Thursday, the Prime Minister of Greenland’s autonomous government, Nielsen, stated that he was unclear about the specific content of the "framework" agreement reached between Trump and NATO Secretary General Rasmussen. However, he emphasized that any agreement involving Greenland cannot be concluded without the participation of Greenland and Denmark.
According to Xinhua News Agency, Nielsen stated that the autonomous government and people of Greenland continue to feel immense pressure from the United States, and in such circumstances, "support from allies is crucial." He said, "We choose the Kingdom of Denmark. We choose the European Union. We choose NATO. This is not just an issue for Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark; it concerns the world order for all of us."
Nielsen stressed that Greenland has "red lines" that cannot be crossed, including respecting territorial integrity, international law, and sovereignty. He said, "Our integrity, borders, and international law are absolutely red lines we do not want anyone to cross. I don't think this is surprising at all."
Nielsen expressed confidence that these bottom lines had been communicated by Danish and Greenlandic officials to Rasmussen and had been "conveyed" to Trump. He said, "I don’t know the specific content of that agreement, but I do know that we now have a high-level working group formulating solutions for both parties."
Nielsen directly criticized the aggressive stance of the Trump administration towards Greenland, stating, "There is no doubt that the rhetoric we’ve heard over the past year is unacceptable to us." He noted that it is difficult to maintain a respectful dialogue when citizens "hear threats of annexation and occupation every night." He added, "Try to imagine, as a Greenlander, as a peaceful people here, what it feels like to hear and see daily in the media someone wanting to take away your freedom."
Trump Announces Framework Agreement and Responses from All Parties
According to reports by Xinhua News Agency, Trump posted on social media on Wednesday, January 21, stating that based on his "productive" meeting with NATO Secretary General Rasmussen, both sides "have established a framework for an agreement regarding the future of Greenland and even the entire Arctic region." Relevant progress will be announced at an appropriate time. He did not specify the details of the framework agreement but indicated that the plan involves defense and mineral extraction arrangements, which are "beneficial to everyone," and that the United States "got everything it wanted."
Trump also stated that, given the aforementioned developments, he would not implement the planned tariff increases on eight European countries, set to take effect on February 1.
Xinhua News Agency reported on Wednesday that Trump described the agreement's timeframe as "indefinite," stating that the deal met his demands for control over Greenland. However, he did not explicitly clarify whether this included U.S. ownership of Greenland. White House Press Secretary Leavitt stated on the same day that the framework details of the agreement still needed to be finalized by "all relevant parties" before being made public. She noted that if the agreement is reached, "the United States will permanently achieve all its strategic objectives in Greenland at a minimal cost."
Xinhua News Agency mentioned that neither the U.S. nor NATO has publicly disclosed the framework details of the agreement. According to comprehensive reports from American and European media, the agreement will not involve the transfer of sovereignty over Greenland but may include the deployment of the U.S. "Golden Dome" missile defense system in Greenland, the "updating" of the 1951 defense agreement between the U.S. and Denmark concerning Greenland, and increased NATO activities in the Arctic region.
Wall Street News reported that the agreement was discussed during the NATO meeting on Wednesday. Senior military officials of NATO member states deliberated on a compromise proposal: Denmark would transfer sovereignty over small plots of land in Greenland to the U.S. for the construction of military bases. Nielsen explicitly rejected this proposal during a press conference.
Xinhua News Agency reported that NATO Secretary General Lute confirmed on Wednesday that he had a "very positive meeting" with Trump and stated that Trump’s posts on social media were "completely on point," and that "further dialogue will follow." NATO spokesperson Alison Hart said that Lute did not make any "sovereignty compromises" regarding the issue of Greenland during his meeting with Trump.
According to Xinhua News Agency, Danish Prime Minister Frederiksen told Danish media on Thursday that Lute had no authority to negotiate on behalf of Denmark and Greenland with other parties. Frederiksen emphasized that Denmark’s red line remains unchanged: it will not relinquish sovereignty, as Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark. Danish Foreign Minister Rasmussen stated on Wednesday that he was willing to personally inform Trump that Denmark would not negotiate over the sovereignty of Greenland. He reiterated, "The U.S. will not get Greenland; this is the bottom line."
Editor/Liam