Northern Merger: Trump lashed out at Europe in Davos
Donald Trump's harsh criticism of Europe has become one of the main topics of the World Economic Forum in Davos. The American president said that the overseas partner is moving "in the wrong direction" and has lost its former appearance. The head of the White House also increased pressure on his allies with trade duties and threats about Greenland. Experts interviewed by Izvestia note that such rhetoric indicates the transition of the United States to a more confrontational model of dialogue with Europe. Trump did not ignore the Ukrainian crisis either, announcing a meeting with Vladimir Zelensky. According to him, Russian President Vladimir Putin is also interested in signing the agreement.
Trump humiliated Europe
US President Donald Trump arrived at the World Economic Forum in Davos on his second attempt. The first flight was disrupted due to a technical malfunction of the aircraft - the crew was forced to return to Andrews base, after which the American leader transferred to another, smaller aircraft.
According to the White House, the program of Donald Trump's visit includes five meetings with the leaders of European countries. A wide range of issues are being discussed at the forum, from the Ukrainian settlement to trade disputes and the future of Greenland, around which a new international conflict is breaking out.
Speaking to the forum participants, Donald Trump immediately sharply criticized the course of the overseas allies. According to him, Europe has changed in recent decades.
"I love Europe, I wish Europe well, but in recent decades it has been moving in the wrong direction," Trump said, adding that the continent's countries are being harmed by "uncontrolled migration, endless imports," as well as green energy.
Trump's harsh statements provoked a harsh reaction in Europe. As the Financial Times reported, EU countries are considering the possibility of imposing duties against the United States against the background of measures announced by Washington due to the situation around the Danish island.
According to Politico, French President Emmanuel Macron left the venue on Tuesday without agreeing on a bilateral contact with the American leader, whom he had previously invited to Paris for the G7 meeting. Earlier, Trump said that the French president was "not needed by anyone," commenting on Macron's refusal to join the so-called "Peace Council" on Gaza.
Andrei Kortunov, a researcher at the Russian International Affairs Council, believes that Trump is purposefully increasing pressure on his European partners in the context of Greenland, sensing the weakness of the EU and the existence of internal disagreements within the bloc.
"The American president seeks to use these contradictions in his own interests, but at the same time made an important reservation that he does not plan to resort to military force and prefers to resolve the issue through negotiations," the expert shared with Izvestia.
The expert notes that such a position may mean giving the European Union a certain delay and an opportunity to bargain with Washington, although the outcome of these negotiations remains unclear.
Commenting on Trump's anti—European rhetoric in Davos, Polish political scientist and former Sejm deputy Mateusz Piskorski told Izvestia that Washington has already come to terms with the formation of a multipolar world order and is seeking to get rid of competition with Europe at a minimum price for itself, including through political and symbolic pressure.
Piskorsky draws attention to the fact that the European Union is heavily dependent on the United States today, both in the field of energy imports after the termination of contracts with Russia, as well as in the field of technology and weapons. This, in his opinion, allows Trump to conduct a dialogue with Europe in a harsh and humiliating manner, demonstrating its vulnerability and weakness.
Trump asked for a "piece of ice"
Greenland is expected to become one of the most resonant topics of the forum. Donald Trump reiterated his intention to secure the transfer of the island to the United States and stressed that no country is able to protect it anymore.
According to the American leader, Washington needs Greenland to ensure its own and international security. Trump also recalled that the United States created bases in Greenland for Denmark and fought for it during World War II. However, he stressed that so far he is striving for immediate negotiations on the purchase of the island, and not for a military seizure, which the White House has not ruled out all this time.
"I am asking for a piece of ice, cold and located in a remote location, which could play a vital role in ensuring peace and protecting the world," he said in Davos.
The United States intends to secure the transfer of Greenland from Denmark for the deployment of a large-scale missile defense system "Golden Dome".
The future of Greenland was also touched upon in Moscow. Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a Security Council meeting that the United States is fully capable of paying about $1 billion for the island. According to him, if we draw historical parallels with the purchase of Alaska, then in terms of current prices, the cost of Greenland would be $ 200-250 million, but given the current realities, this figure could approach a billion.
"By the way, Denmark has always treated Greenland as a colony, rather harshly, if not cruelly, treated it," the president noted.
However, the topic of Greenland and the United States does not concern Russia, Vladimir Putin summed up.
The EU's reaction to the Greenland situation
As for the EU's unity on the Greenland issue, there is no consolidated position within the union, Kortunov notes. He draws attention to the fact that Trump has announced duties against eight European countries, and one of them is the United Kingdom, which has long ceased to be a member of the EU. Thus, only seven out of 27 countries fell under the American measures.
From this, according to the expert, it follows that the rest of the EU states are not yet perceived by Washington as tough opponents and have probably taken a more moderate line, expressing disagreement with Trump's position less categorically.
Tariff pressure has mainly fallen on the Nordic countries, for which the Greenland issue is of more fundamental and sensitive importance than for their southern or eastern EU partners. In general, the expert emphasizes, it remains almost impossible to achieve unity in Europe on such major international issues.
However, a number of politicians, at least publicly, remain steadfast. The Chairman of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly, Annalena Burbok, speaking in Davos, stressed Greenland's belonging to Denmark. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said that Ottawa firmly defends the island's right to self-determination and fully supports Denmark.
The head of the kingdom's Foreign Ministry, Lars Loekke Rasmussen, noted that European countries should stop flattering the American president in the dispute over the ownership of the island and demonstrate force. According to him, the current tactics are not working.
Against the background of the escalating dispute in Europe, the idea of a boycott of the World Cup, which will be held this summer in the United States, is also being discussed. As The Economist magazine notes, such a move is seen as one of the possible forms of pressure on Washington.
Thus, the Davos Forum, conceived as a platform for global dialogue, in 2026 became an arena for demonstrating new lines of division between the United States and its traditional allies. And if economic differences can still be resolved through negotiations, then the dispute over Greenland threatens to escalate into the most serious conflict in the West in recent years.
The situation with Greenland in the information field even seemed to overshadow the Ukrainian agenda. However, Donald Trump, who found himself in the very center of attention, said that he expects to hold a meeting with Vladimir Zelensky already in Davos. According to him, Russian President Vladimir Putin is also interested in signing the agreement. Trump is confident that the situation around Ukraine has reached a point where the parties can conclude a deal.
At the same time, Vladimir Zelensky stated the day before that he did not intend to fly to Switzerland. However, after Trump's statement about the upcoming meeting, it is possible that Kiev's position may change. Later, Trump clarified that the talks were scheduled for January 22.
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