(VOVWORLD) - US President Donald Trump abruptly stepped back on Wednesday from threats to impose tariffs as leverage to seize Greenland, ruled out the use of force and suggested a deal was in sight to end a dispute over the Danish territory.
Trump had threatened at the weekend to impose rising tariffs on eight European countries' US-bound exports over their support for Greenland’s continued status as an autonomous Danish territory.
But after meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at Switzerland, Trump said Western Arctic allies could forge a new deal over the strategic island territory of 57,000 people that satisfies his desire for a "Golden Dome" missile‑defense system and access to critical minerals.
“It’s a deal that everybody’s very happy with," Trump told reporters, saying the long-term deal “puts everybody in a really good position, especially as it pertains to security and to minerals.”
Trump said he had tasked Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and envoy Steve Witkoff to take part in further discussions.