Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte have agreed on what he described as a “framework of a future deal” covering Greenland and broader Arctic security, prompting him to abandon plans to impose new tariffs on Denmark and other European countries.
Speaking after discussions with Rutte, Trump said the emerging framework addressed his longstanding concerns about Arctic defense and strategic access, making punitive trade measures unnecessary. As a result, he said, the United States would not proceed with the previously threatened 10 percent tariffs on Denmark and several European nations.
Trump had earlier warned that tariffs would be imposed unless European allies agreed to U.S. demands related to Greenland, a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark that he has repeatedly described as vital to American national security. The threat had triggered a sharp backlash across Europe, including the suspension of work on an EU-U.S. trade agreement and warnings of potential countermeasures.
While Trump did not provide details of the framework, his remarks suggested a shift away from unilateral pressure toward a NATO-centered approach focused on collective security in the Arctic. NATO officials have increasingly highlighted the region’s strategic importance amid rising activity by Russia and China, as melting ice opens new shipping routes and access to natural resources.
European officials have insisted throughout the dispute that Greenland’s future can only be decided by its people and Denmark, rejecting any notion of U.S. ownership. Trump’s decision to drop the tariff threat is likely to ease immediate trade tensions, though questions remain over how the proposed framework would be implemented and whether it would satisfy European concerns over sovereignty.
The announcement marked a notable de-escalation after days of strained transatlantic relations, with markets and diplomats watching closely to see whether the Greenland dispute can now be contained within broader NATO discussions rather than spilling over into trade and economic confrontation.
