UPDATE - Germany cautiously welcomes Trump’s remarks on Greenland deal

UPDATES WITH MORE REMARKS BY GERMAN CHANCELLOR

By Ayhan Simsek

BERLIN (AA) - German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Thursday cautiously welcomed US President Donald Trump's announcement of a framework deal on Greenland, while reaffirming EU solidarity with Denmark.

“I welcome President Trump's remarks from last night. This is the right way to go,” Merz said in his speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos. “This is the right way because any threat to acquire European territory by force would be unacceptable,” he said.

US President Trump announced a framework for a deal on Greenland following his meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Davos on Wednesday, stepping back from earlier threats and withdrawing tariff threats against European countries.

Chancellor Merz expressed cautious optimism and emphasized that EU member states will remain united and take necessary action if the US administration moves forward with plans to impose new tariffs.

"New tariffs would undermine the foundations of transatlantic relations," he warned. "If they are put in place, Europe's answer will be united, calm, measured, and firm."

Merz added that Germany will support further talks between Denmark, Greenland, and the US to reach a solution based on the principles of territorial integrity and sovereignty.

Trump has repeatedly said that the US must acquire Greenland for national security reasons and to deter rivals such as China and Russia in the Arctic. Before heading to Davos, he threatened tariffs on European allies who oppose US control of Greenland.

Both Denmark and Greenland—a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark—have rejected any proposal to sell the territory, reaffirming Danish sovereignty over the island.

- New era of great power rivalry

In his speech, Merz emphasized that the international order has been shaken and a new era of great power rivalry has begun. He cited Russia's attack on Ukraine, its hybrid war targeting Europe, China's growing assertiveness, and a radical shift in US foreign and security policy as indicators of this new era.

"We do not have to accept this new reality as fate. We are not at the mercy of this new world order. We have a choice -- we can shape the future," Merz said, emphasizing that the European Union must step up, strengthen its economic power, enhance defense capabilities, and build partnerships with like-minded nations.

Despite current tensions with the US over Greenland, Chancellor Merz argued that Europeans should not give up on NATO. He said Europeans must take on more responsibility within the alliance and address US concerns over Arctic security with a stronger NATO presence in the region.

"Now we must repair the trust on which the alliance is built," Merz said. "We feel deeply that it can be the US strongest competitive advantage in an age of great powers. Democracies do not have subordinates -- they have allies, partners, and trusted friends."