Trump pauses Greenland tariffs, claims ‘framework’ for future Arctic deal

US President Donald Trump on January 21 said a “framework of a future deal” on Greenland and the wider Arctic region had been reached, stepping back from a threatened tariff move that was set to take effect on February 1.

In a post on his Truth Social platform following his address at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump said discussions with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte had produced a preliminary understanding, prompting him to hold off on imposing tariffs on countries backing Greenland.

“Based upon a very productive meeting that I have had with the Secretary General of NATO, Mark Rutte, we have formed the framework of a future deal with respect to Greenland and, in fact, the entire Arctic Region,” Trump wrote. He added that the proposed arrangement, if finalised, would benefit both the United States and NATO allies.

“As a result of this understanding, I will not be imposing the tariffs that were scheduled to go into effect on February 1st,” he said, while noting that “additional discussions are being held concerning The Golden Dome as it pertains to Greenland.”

The announcement came hours after Trump intensified his rhetoric on Greenland during his Davos speech, openly calling for “immediate negotiations on the acquisition of Greenland” and issuing a stark warning to those who resist.

“You can say yes, and we will be very appreciative. Or you can say no, and we will remember,” Trump told the audience.

At the same time, he sought to downplay the symbolism of the move, referring to Greenland as “a piece of ice” and framing US interest in the territory as a matter of global security. “We want a piece of ice for world protection,” he said, arguing that American control was essential for broader strategic stability.

Trump’s remarks on Greenland came amid a wide-ranging Davos address in which he reflected on his year in office, spoke about a recent US military operation in Venezuela that led to the capture of President Nicolás Maduro, and sharply criticized former president Joe Biden.

At one point, Trump appeared to anticipate the reaction to his Greenland comments, asking the audience: “Would you like me to speak a few words on Greenland? I was going to leave it out of the speech… But I think I would have been reviewed very negatively.”

While the immediate tariff threat has been withdrawn, Trump’s comments signalled that Greenland — and the strategic contest over the Arctic — remains firmly on his foreign policy agenda.